Can anyone tell me what Broadway musical that line is from?
Last night was a wonderful wrap up of my 6 weeks in New York! I finally walked the Brooklyn Bridge. It was perfect weather. I was on a journey to find the best pizza in New York at Grimaldi's. This pizza place was picture-perfect! Its not a big place, but extremely popular. Due to the small space, patrons must wait in a line along the street on the sidewalk. Take-out too! A very Italian looking man, who rarely smiles, stands outside and monitors the line. Every so often a muffled voice inside yells something out and the gentleman (we'll call him Tony cause it just seems right) looks at the line and asks, "two?" or "three?" or "take-out?" and those closest to the front must be ready to respond. If there is hesitation he has to repeat himself... and Tony doesn't like to repeat. You gotta be ready. It was finally my turn! I ordered a calzone cause I was told they were amazing, plus I was thinking it would be better than ordering a pizza for myself (oh, there are is a sign on the door that says, "no slices". you gotta order a whole pie...that's what they call it here, a pie). Cash only... of course! I return outside to wait for my calzone. When it comes out I realize that this is definitely not for one person. I feel better about paying $15 but good heavens!
I walked with my 10 lbs. calzone back across the Brooklyn Bridge and take the train to Bryant Park. Last opportunity to watch a movie in Bryant Park. "The Apartment" was about to start when I got over there. I finally open up my calzone to see the enormity of this thing! I laughed out loud. It was amazing! The dough was incredible. I could only eat about 1/4 of this sucker!
A little later I receive a text from some classmates that they are down at Pier 17. I pack up my mammoth calzone and head down to the Pier. Nothing like a bunch of hungry, poor actors sitting in a public area enjoying cheap drinks and reminiscing about class and funny memories. We stayed down at the pier until 2 a.m. They devoured the remaining 3/4 of my calzone and we had a grand time. The thing that made me stay so long is I knew I would most likely never see most of them again. Tragic but true.
One my ride home on the glorious G train, I had my own car! I was in a jovial mood anyway, but that just topped it off. I was singing and dancing around the car! How often does that happen?! So rare! I loved it!
New York has been amazing and I am very excited to come back for the fall! My blog may experience a hiatus during my sabbatical to Texas, so fear not faithful readers... I will return in September!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Ode to the Subway
Anyone who has ever experienced the Subway system of New York knows it can be a trifle wild. There are so many different lines to take, people move so quickly, and sometimes you end up in a completely different part of New York than you intended to go (like Queens... Dad & Adam).
On a day-to-day basis, I've come to appreciate little things about the subway and absolutely loathe others:
I love when I walk down the stairs to the station, swipe my card and the train is just rolling in. On occasion, my good fortune has continued when I have to transfer and as the doors are opening on the G train, the A or C is coming to a stop across the platform and I just step on and continue to Manhattan. This makes my trip all of 25-30 min. I can count, on one hand, the number of times this has happened to me. However, more often than not I come down the stairs for the G train and step onto an empty platform. That is the absolute worst because that means the train has just left! You can watch people, as they come down to the platform and look around realizing the train has just left. Their entire body just drops in utter defeat.
Nothing is worse than the G train. One can wait forever for the G train. Some New Yorkers nicknamed it the "ghost" train cause it never comes, especially late at night. I've waited for 45 min. for that stupid train. And you can't get mad at anyone or anything cause there is no one there. You just pace frantically back-and-forth or stare with great intensity at the opening where the train is going to come. I sometimes step to the edge of the platform and look in the opposite direction to see the seething, irritated faces of people. It makes me feel a little better to know I'm not alone in my frustration and usually it makes me laugh.
Since its summer, I love that there is air-condition on the subways but I hate when you step into one where the air has stopped working. Once you've committed to that car and the door slide shut you are immediately aware of the stifling, smelly stillness of an un-air conditioned car. You can seek out the coolness and move to another car, or you can just tough it out and pray for no delays.
Another funny bit about the subway is when you sit under the subway map in the car. Every car has one posted somewhere and if I can avoid it I will. When a person sits under the map and another person comes and hovers over them to look at the map, it always affects the behavior of the person under the map. If they are reading, listening to music, or just sitting there. Its funny to watch their different reactions to feeling crowded.
Music is a tricky thing on the subway. Generally, when I start my trip its on a quiet platform so the volume isn't too high (got to protect my inner ear). But when I get on the train, its so loud I've got to crank it up just to hear it at all. However, when we pull in for a stop I have to turn it back down again or everyone in a 10 foot radius will be enjoying my music as well! I don't understand how people just leave their iPod alone the whole time on the train. Either they can't hear it or everyone else can!
Sometimes I miss my car... yes, even that awful Sebring... but then I see the prices for gas...
On a day-to-day basis, I've come to appreciate little things about the subway and absolutely loathe others:
I love when I walk down the stairs to the station, swipe my card and the train is just rolling in. On occasion, my good fortune has continued when I have to transfer and as the doors are opening on the G train, the A or C is coming to a stop across the platform and I just step on and continue to Manhattan. This makes my trip all of 25-30 min. I can count, on one hand, the number of times this has happened to me. However, more often than not I come down the stairs for the G train and step onto an empty platform. That is the absolute worst because that means the train has just left! You can watch people, as they come down to the platform and look around realizing the train has just left. Their entire body just drops in utter defeat.
Nothing is worse than the G train. One can wait forever for the G train. Some New Yorkers nicknamed it the "ghost" train cause it never comes, especially late at night. I've waited for 45 min. for that stupid train. And you can't get mad at anyone or anything cause there is no one there. You just pace frantically back-and-forth or stare with great intensity at the opening where the train is going to come. I sometimes step to the edge of the platform and look in the opposite direction to see the seething, irritated faces of people. It makes me feel a little better to know I'm not alone in my frustration and usually it makes me laugh.
Since its summer, I love that there is air-condition on the subways but I hate when you step into one where the air has stopped working. Once you've committed to that car and the door slide shut you are immediately aware of the stifling, smelly stillness of an un-air conditioned car. You can seek out the coolness and move to another car, or you can just tough it out and pray for no delays.
Another funny bit about the subway is when you sit under the subway map in the car. Every car has one posted somewhere and if I can avoid it I will. When a person sits under the map and another person comes and hovers over them to look at the map, it always affects the behavior of the person under the map. If they are reading, listening to music, or just sitting there. Its funny to watch their different reactions to feeling crowded.
Music is a tricky thing on the subway. Generally, when I start my trip its on a quiet platform so the volume isn't too high (got to protect my inner ear). But when I get on the train, its so loud I've got to crank it up just to hear it at all. However, when we pull in for a stop I have to turn it back down again or everyone in a 10 foot radius will be enjoying my music as well! I don't understand how people just leave their iPod alone the whole time on the train. Either they can't hear it or everyone else can!
Sometimes I miss my car... yes, even that awful Sebring... but then I see the prices for gas...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
one more thing...
My favorite thing and I didn't even tell you about it! There is a place across from the Eugene O'Neill Theatre called the Actor's Chapel on 49th street. I was waiting outside in the line to see "Spring Awakening" and the bells started to chime. Normal for a chapel, but they were playing a tune. It was, "There's No Business Like Show Business". Only in New York! Love it!
"George"
I've chosen the title for this entry to present a theme for the piece (I'm so calculating). This is truly a city where so many random weird and funny things happen all the stinkin' time. I've been trying to keep track of a few of them and share them with you, but due to my days becoming more and more busy I have not had time to devote to this blog. I just wanted to share with you a glimpse into "the wackness" (new film just released) of the Big Apple...
George is what I have lovingly nicknamed the rat that lives on the "G" train line that I take home everyday. Now, I know there is probably more than one rat and I don't see the same one each time, but I only ever see one and its only ever on the "G" line, so all subway rats are George.
A couple days ago I was walking home from yoga and feeling very loose and open to the world and I walked by a retirement home. So cliche only a little off. Its a pleasant warm afternoon and everyone is outside near the BBQ stands and picnic tables sitting around (some are scooting around in their motorized wheelchairs) and in the background I hear, "It's alright, have a good time cause its alright. Oh, its alright" Great song and such a funny picture! You had to be there, but I laughed!
Now walking on the sidewalks of New York takes agility and quick reflexes. I'm not talking slowly sauntering down the sidewalk chatting with friends. I mean when you have to get 10 blocks in 10 minutes through Times Square. I love it! Its like a racetrack with people. You have to try to predict where the holes are going to be. Sometimes you can see a window closing so you quicken the pace and narrowly slide between two people. Occasionally you don't quite make it and you bumps a woman's purse, which is inevitably followed by a comment or look that you can feel even if you aren't looking at the person. I like the game so much I find myself zipping thru people traffic even when I don't have anywhere I need to be. Its just the way I walk now, but its a game so its fun! Let's face it... I'm a 5 year old! I love games!
Oh! I was sitting in Borders the other day sipping on my Dean & Deluca tea and an Asian woman with a white bucket hat sat down next to me. I was going over a script so I was fairly concentrated but she demanded my attention when she started burping successively. It was the strangest thing ever. She would take a deep breath and then burp about 8 times in a row. Then 5 minutes later she'd do it again! So weird and distracting! Then sitting in front of me was a very old man who had that "old man" curve in the spine where he couldn't sit upright. He had an art book sitting in front of him and a notepad and colored pencils. I was thinking, "oh cute, the little old man is drawing the picture in the book. he's probably pretty good" I don't know. Well, during one of his spontaneous naps his pad tilted toward me and I could see what he had been working on. It was AWFUL!!! It looked nothing like the book. It looked like something a child would draw. A little bizarre, I thought. He sat there longer than I did, and he didn't appear to be with anyone. Very peculiar day at Borders.
Later on the subway I saw a man with dreadlocks down to his ankles. I couldn't help but wonder how old the hair was that was at the end of his dreadlocks. Gross!!
I considered continuing on with a bit about the subways, but I feel that should come later. Ode to the Subway! Should have put the bit about George in there, but I don't feel like editing this now!
George is what I have lovingly nicknamed the rat that lives on the "G" train line that I take home everyday. Now, I know there is probably more than one rat and I don't see the same one each time, but I only ever see one and its only ever on the "G" line, so all subway rats are George.
A couple days ago I was walking home from yoga and feeling very loose and open to the world and I walked by a retirement home. So cliche only a little off. Its a pleasant warm afternoon and everyone is outside near the BBQ stands and picnic tables sitting around (some are scooting around in their motorized wheelchairs) and in the background I hear, "It's alright, have a good time cause its alright. Oh, its alright" Great song and such a funny picture! You had to be there, but I laughed!
Now walking on the sidewalks of New York takes agility and quick reflexes. I'm not talking slowly sauntering down the sidewalk chatting with friends. I mean when you have to get 10 blocks in 10 minutes through Times Square. I love it! Its like a racetrack with people. You have to try to predict where the holes are going to be. Sometimes you can see a window closing so you quicken the pace and narrowly slide between two people. Occasionally you don't quite make it and you bumps a woman's purse, which is inevitably followed by a comment or look that you can feel even if you aren't looking at the person. I like the game so much I find myself zipping thru people traffic even when I don't have anywhere I need to be. Its just the way I walk now, but its a game so its fun! Let's face it... I'm a 5 year old! I love games!
Oh! I was sitting in Borders the other day sipping on my Dean & Deluca tea and an Asian woman with a white bucket hat sat down next to me. I was going over a script so I was fairly concentrated but she demanded my attention when she started burping successively. It was the strangest thing ever. She would take a deep breath and then burp about 8 times in a row. Then 5 minutes later she'd do it again! So weird and distracting! Then sitting in front of me was a very old man who had that "old man" curve in the spine where he couldn't sit upright. He had an art book sitting in front of him and a notepad and colored pencils. I was thinking, "oh cute, the little old man is drawing the picture in the book. he's probably pretty good" I don't know. Well, during one of his spontaneous naps his pad tilted toward me and I could see what he had been working on. It was AWFUL!!! It looked nothing like the book. It looked like something a child would draw. A little bizarre, I thought. He sat there longer than I did, and he didn't appear to be with anyone. Very peculiar day at Borders.
Later on the subway I saw a man with dreadlocks down to his ankles. I couldn't help but wonder how old the hair was that was at the end of his dreadlocks. Gross!!
I considered continuing on with a bit about the subways, but I feel that should come later. Ode to the Subway! Should have put the bit about George in there, but I don't feel like editing this now!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
And I'm Back!!!!!!!
First I must thank those of you who have written comments. It just makes me feel good to hear back a little bit, especially from those I haven't talked to in a while.
Ok, internet issue resolved. I know you must all be wondering, "what crazy adventures have been happening to Erin lately?" So many things, but I will not write 1 1/2 weeks worth of info. Even I don't have that much patience! A few highlights though....
I celebrated the holiday weekend by spending all my time as a theater junkie! I saw 6 shows in 7 days!!! I love this city! Ready to be jealous? Wednesday I attended 'Spring Awakening' for $27; I celebrated the birth of our country on the 4th with 'Wicked' front row for $27. Yeah, they spit on me! Then 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with Laura Linney, front row (student price); then 'August: Osage County' winner of 2008 Tony Award for best new play (parents CC, hehe); 'A Chorus Line' starring A.C. Slater (who was sadly the best one in the show... not good); and finally 'Gypsy' starring the incomparable Patti LuPone, who was good but Laura Benanti was superb. I just love live theatre!
I very much enjoyed the visit of my dad and twin brother, Adam. I also enjoyed eating more in the past 5 days than I have this entire time in NY. For the record, it is possible to live cheaply here... depending on your will power! You just have to get a little creative. Por ejemplo: I like to do Bikram Yoga, but can I afford this? No way! However, the Good Lord has provided me with a work-study opportunity with a studio. I work one 6 hr shift/week and get a free week of yoga! Lovely! Its like in the olden days when people bartered. I feel like a pioneer woman. Yeehaw!
OH! Best news of all (probably should have opened with this)..... I've been accepted to the 2 years program!!! WOOHOO!!!! Which means that I'm going to freeze my southern cheese off in the winter, but whatever! So, I have a million things to sort out for the fall, but hooray for that! Now you can all start planning your trips to come visit/feed me! Speaking of which, I should probably call home to inform the parents instead of having them read this and find out. It will help smooth over any discussions we might need to have about the financial side of life. Bank of Nelson needs to have loose pockets for daughter #2!!!
Ok, internet issue resolved. I know you must all be wondering, "what crazy adventures have been happening to Erin lately?" So many things, but I will not write 1 1/2 weeks worth of info. Even I don't have that much patience! A few highlights though....
I celebrated the holiday weekend by spending all my time as a theater junkie! I saw 6 shows in 7 days!!! I love this city! Ready to be jealous? Wednesday I attended 'Spring Awakening' for $27; I celebrated the birth of our country on the 4th with 'Wicked' front row for $27. Yeah, they spit on me! Then 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' with Laura Linney, front row (student price); then 'August: Osage County' winner of 2008 Tony Award for best new play (parents CC, hehe); 'A Chorus Line' starring A.C. Slater (who was sadly the best one in the show... not good); and finally 'Gypsy' starring the incomparable Patti LuPone, who was good but Laura Benanti was superb. I just love live theatre!
I very much enjoyed the visit of my dad and twin brother, Adam. I also enjoyed eating more in the past 5 days than I have this entire time in NY. For the record, it is possible to live cheaply here... depending on your will power! You just have to get a little creative. Por ejemplo: I like to do Bikram Yoga, but can I afford this? No way! However, the Good Lord has provided me with a work-study opportunity with a studio. I work one 6 hr shift/week and get a free week of yoga! Lovely! Its like in the olden days when people bartered. I feel like a pioneer woman. Yeehaw!
OH! Best news of all (probably should have opened with this)..... I've been accepted to the 2 years program!!! WOOHOO!!!! Which means that I'm going to freeze my southern cheese off in the winter, but whatever! So, I have a million things to sort out for the fall, but hooray for that! Now you can all start planning your trips to come visit/feed me! Speaking of which, I should probably call home to inform the parents instead of having them read this and find out. It will help smooth over any discussions we might need to have about the financial side of life. Bank of Nelson needs to have loose pockets for daughter #2!!!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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