Tonight was my Asia Culture class. It is my only class that ALWAYS goes to right at 9:30pm. Which normally I wouldn't mind the late hour at all, but my bus leaves at 10:00pm.... sharp, so I gotta book it. It's about a 5 minute walk to the subway and then a 10-12 minute ride once I'm on the [fast] train. The express train seems to regularly come at 9:32 or so- which means IF class gets out a couple minutes early I'm on the fast train and at the Bus Station by 9:50 or so which includes the 5 minute walk [if I walk slow] through the transfer station.
Tonight however we got our first tests back. She STARTED handing them out at 9:29 and mine was just about last. (I got a B+) I am also kinda starting to make friends so I was a little slow walking out since I was talking and thinking I was AOK on the commute home since I've got it down after six weeks!
By the time I got to the subway I had missed the express train and it seemed like forEVER for the local train to come. Then of course it stopped at EVERY stop and we had to wait for the Express to unload at the Bus Station before we could unload. I had my cell phone watching the minutes tick by, I found a ponytail holder in my backpack and put my hair back. I latched my pack on tight and planned to make a SPRINT for it.
The train FINALLY pulled in at 9:47pm. My heart was pounding- I am NOT good at cutting it close, I hate the adrenaline rush and I always doubt my ability to actually run in a crowd and leap up stairs. What if I totally poop out in front of everyone, how embarressing!
But I had to if I was going to make the bus! I jog/ran along the platform and up the first set of stairs... two at a time I might add! Then around a sharp corner trying not to run into anyone- down a triple flight of stairs with like 6 old women in my way, but I passed most of them and didn't fall, nor did they thank goodness!
Then it is another short set of stairs, again two at a time- I know! You're totally impressed! I'm thinking to myself, maybe I am in pretty good shape [how sad is that, it was like 2 minutes?!!] Then it is about a 100 foot dash and then a small incline that slows the entire crowd down dramatically. I kept running, thinking I would be exhausted but I wasn't! It was just my heart from being so DAMN late was pounding!
There was some kinda music/dancing thing going on so there was a big crowd by the exits, of course. I ran through the turn thingy and ran passed some Port Authority Police Officers, down the last flight of stairs and made it to the bus gate at 9:55.
Whew!
The bus was super full, I got like one of the last 5 seats. When it's full like that I always try to sit next to someone that:
a) Has earphones in,
b) if they are sleeping that is even better,
c) and who ever looks like they don't smell.
Once I sat behind a guy sitting next to someone he didn't know and HE TALKED THE WHOLE TRIP, THEN he asked the guy if he could borrow his cell phone. And the guy let him! I always worry I'll end up next to someone like that.
I felt bad tonight because I was SWEATING from running to the bus. The poor guy I was sitting next too I am sure was like Oh My God.... GROSS! But he just pretended I wasn't there. [That's a New York ability I'm working on- pretending someone two inches from you isn't actually there! It's harder than it sounds, it is very unnatural to me.]
My feet are holding up really good these days. As I relax on the bus I always survey how my feet and legs feel after walking all day. After reading (ok, yes it was an audiobook, but it was GOOD!) the book BORN TO RUN about the Tarahumara Indians and running barefoot as we have naturally evolved to do I, myself have been experimenting with barefoot running and walking differently.
I've been wearing my moccasins that normally I would say kill my feet because they have no support and I can feel every pebble under foot. But now that is what I'm going for. I walked 6 miles yesterday and another 3 today plus the running in them and you know what? My feet and legs feel really good! Tired yes, but not achey or painful at all. I think I may be on to something here.
A couple nights ago when I got home I headed out with the boys for our regular walk. It was nice I was thinking, cool and damp- it actually felt dark. I really like it when it FEELS dark. About a mile from the house I felt a few little drops and didn't think too much of it. The next thing I know it's a COMPLETE downpour. [It's pouring right now too] Blue HATES the rain, and I wasn't prepared for it so we started running home. I was wearing my Crocs which my feet slip in them when they are wet because there is so much room in them. So I took them off and we ran home BAREFOOT! It was wonderfully fun! And liberating! It makes me feel like a little kid, and honestly its almost like a foot massage to FEEL everything with my feet.
Crazy.
So yes, lots and LOTS of walking in the city [and at home with the boys]. Yesterday I also had my first celebrity sighting. No, not Sean Penn - although I think he lives in New York too.
Victor Garber. He was the evil Professor Calligan in Legally Blonde. And he's been in a lot of other stuff too. Several times on Law and Order. And he was in Milk with Sean Penn.
I had just got off the phone with my mom telling her HOW I LOVE NEW YORK! and particularly the West Village area [I SOOO wanna live there]. I'm walking along feeling all cool and happy that I'm there. I'm thinking to myself maybe I'll see someone FAMOUS! [I play this game alot in my head] I scan everyone's face looking, and BAM, there he is, I like almost bumped into him. He was walking with another guy and the Professor, I mean Victor, was talking away with his hands in the air and wearing dark sunglasses. How cool is that??!!
I am so incredibly drawn to the city, it's so not me, but then it is so perfectly me. It's like an adventureland for adults, but not all cartooney like Vegas is. It's all just daily life stuff, but it's ANYTHING you can imagine and everything you would or could want to do with your daily life. (Except Mountains, there are no mountains to see)
Did you know that it wasn't always flat? When they first plotted it and developed the island they flattened it on purpose, the whole thing! They wanted to build a fantasy city. It's absurdly unnatural, but yet with all the people and masses flowing it feels alive and totally natural because of the human energy. I can't get enough!
Matt and I are going to Staten Island on Saturday and to get his fix of the city for the day. He FINALLY gets back Friday. He has worked SO hard on getting his house in Charlotte fixed up and on the market. Finally. It is officially FOR SALE. Here is a sneak peek of the work he (and I) did in the last month! From this:
To this (and it looks even better in real life!):
While he has been working, I walk around and amuse myself. I play this game where I try to get the tourists on the buses to wave at me. Like in Alaska... all the tourists wave on the buses and the trains as they go by.
It's fun.
Here they all look right at me, but don't wave back.
I love this picture of us...
It was a really great night. It wasn't as crowded as we thought it would be. We rode SEPTA into the city from Norristown thinking it would be crazy packed, but it wasn't necessary- we could of drove in no problem. SEPTA was free on the ride home.
It was a beautiful sunset. PERFECT weather- 80 something with a light wind, couldn't of been better!
I'm not all into Sheryl Crow, or as I call her 'Lances ex-girlfriend'...but she rocked! It was hit after hit after hit. But I'm still glad they broke up.
By the way....Lance is ROCKIN' the Tour de France!
The outside yard was just as much of a disaster as the inside but we didn't take any pictures. There are no words for how happy we are to have a FOR SALE sign in the front yard! 
Full Report Tomorrow- My feet and me need a good night's sleep after all that.
