Life in NYC

A Lazy Saturday Afternoon

I spent the early afternoon reading China Shakes the World across the street in Sakura Park.  The first few chapters chronicle the rise of several Chinese entrepreneuers. The stories were reminiscent of tales about Andrew Carnegie and other industrialists in his era. The American Dream... but in Chongqing.

Back outside to read the rest...

Fun in the Sun

I had a Midas touch on the subway this morning.  I stepped on two consecutive trains, and they both went out of service.  Door trouble and brake trouble... or at leas that is the official story.  Here are the key stats:

• Left apartment: 8:30
• Arrived at office: 9:55

Still much faster than my commute the day the subway flooded!

Tomorrow I endeavor to spend time running, reading in the park and exploring a new area of the city.  It's been six months in the city and many areas remain unexplored!

Expense Report

Day 209:

• Little Italy Pizza and Sunny's Deli, $4

Day 210:

• PATH, $3
• Morton Williams Supermarket, $5.14

Rylie!

I was so excited to see pictures of Rylie.  She looks so cute!

In other news, I feel like I was hit by a train.  I tried to run my route from the summer and I think I need more practice...

Expense Report

Day 205, $0

Day 206:

• Breakfast from Cafeteria, $1.50

Day 207:

• Lunch from Sunny's Deli, $5

Day 208:

• Lunch at Cafeteria, $2.65

Reading in Sakura Park

The weather was beautiful today and I split time outside between running and reading in the park.  It's nice to go for a run and return with feeling in my fingers.

I read Oedpius at Colonus on the way home from and after work on Friday.  The play is set in the years after Oedipus Rex takes place, but before Antigone. Well worth reading!

Time magazine ran an interesting article about how a group of women Mexican village pooled their remittance dollars (from husbands working in the United States) to create a microfinance lending operation aimed at solving the emigration problem that has been plaguing the village.

Time also ran an article about the Tam Binh orphanage in Vietnam.  Well the story was technically about Angelina Jolie and her latest adopted child, but it also provides color about the very same orphanage that Jamie and John are traveling to visit right now.

Day 202:

• Breakfast at cafeteria, $1.50

Day 203:

• Fandango, $25
• Popcorn at Loews Theater, $6
• Candy from Vendor, $3
• Ray's Pizza, $10

Day 204:

• Fairway Market, $6x.xx

Going Greek

I read Sophocles' Antigone on the ride home tonight. I'm happy with my decision to bring back a selection of Greek comedies and tragedies to NYC from Ohio. The length of the plays is perfect for a 30 minute subway ride.

I ordered sushi from a new restaurant, Ichiro, and it was very good.  I chose yellow tail and salmon sushi, california roll, clear soup and a salad with ginger dressing. Working late has its perks...

Expense Report

Day 201:

• Little Italy Pizza, $2.25
• Sunny's Deli, $1.75

New Photos Posted!

Click here to see them.

Expense Report

Day 200:

• Lunch at Cafeteria, $3

I went home to visit friends and family in Ohio over the weekend. The trip included lunch at Mugsies, bourbon tasting, lecturing a college class about stock option backdating, my early birthday party, my mom's spaghetti and Quaker Steak wings, St. Patrick's Day party, and some airport delays.

Expense Report

Day 194:

• Lunch from street vendor, $2.75

Day 195:

• Lunch at Cafeteria, $4.53
• Cab to LaGuardia, $32
• Auntie Anne's, $8.27

Day 196, $0

Day 197:

• Marathon (Poland, OH), $33.78
• Wines and Spirits (New Castle, PA), $41.07

Day 198:

• McDonald's in Pittsburgh Airport, $5.xx
• Cab from LaGuardia, $30

Day 199:

• Breakfast at Cafeteria, $3
• Guinness at a bar in SOHO, $5

Weekend at Camp Aunt Rhonda

I ventured to SOHO on Friday to listen to a talk by one of my former professors, Dr. Rennie.  His talk was about the life and works of Romanian scholar of religion Mircea Eliade. Very interesting!

I took the 9:15am train to see Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Jack on Saturday morning and spent the rest of the weekend playing Magic Castle and Sight-word Bingo.  It was really nice to see everyone and I hope to get back down there soon.

Expense Report

Day 193, $0

Temperature = 65 degrees

This has been such a strange month.  A week ago, the city was frozen.  Tonight felt like a cool summer night. 

Expense Report

Day 187:

• Breakfast at cafeteria, $2.50
• Pakistani Tea House, $1

Day 188:

• Breakfast at cafeteria, $2.50

Day 189:

• Breakfast at cafeteria, $2.50
• Dr. Rennie's Talk, $20
• Shima Japanese Restaurant, $36.10

Day 190:

• New Jersey Transit, $18.75

Day 191, $0

Day 192:

• Breakfast at cafeteria, $1.50
• La Salle Cleaners, $28

Temperature = 13 Degrees

I don't think it is supposed to be this cold in March. It felt like the coldest day of the winter this morning on the walk to the subway.  Fingers didn't work, ears felt frostbitten... I think I will dig the hat and gloves back out for tomorrow morning.

Day 182:

• Breakfast at Cafeteria, $2.50

Day 183, $0

Day 184:

• Deli, $48.59
• Fairway Market, $11.37

Day 185:

• MetroCard, $76
• Breakfast at Cafeteria, $2.50

Day 186:

• Lunch at Cafeteria, $1.75
• Morton Williams Supermarket, $7.05