One of my neighbors, riding down with me in elevator, asks if I know any Java programmers but it’s unclear if he is asking about an open position that is available or someone who can fill an open position. Either way I don’t.
I get out on the basement level and Willie, the building super, gets in. I quickly mention that the faucet in my tub is still leaking a bit. In the courtyard I bump in Antonio, and then walk to the laundromat. On my way in, I notice Rabbi S. at the nearby bus stop. On my way out, after dropping off the laundry, I see that he is gone. Another bus is arriving though, and I take it to 184th street.
Josh S. leaves his building on 184th and I follow behind as he walks towards the subway. The A.M. New York Lady is no longer at the station, replaced by a more mild-mannered distributor (can you call them salespeople if the paper is free?).
I am still behind Josh when I reach the stairs. He tosses something into the garbage, and then I lose him on the platform. David M. is also here on the platform.
Nearby I spot a young woman in a gray wool coat, a black skirt, and attractive boots. Her hair is auburn and contrasts with fantastically bright green eyes. She is an Orthodox Jew, saying her morning prayers and swaying gently back and forth as she recites the words.
An announcement is made about the next train just as a drop of water from the leaky ceiling lands on my pinky. I get on the train when it arrives and at 175th a former coworker of mine, from years ago, boards the same car as me. I pretend not to recognize him, as he is probably doing the same and too far away to speak to in any case. At 59th I switch to the B train, and see Scott S.
Showing posts with label Scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 9
Thursday, February 25
Brownie
My neighbor's daughter is in the elevator when I get in. She is wearing a colorful argyle baseball cap and I tell her I like it. Outside the sky is still cloudy and yesterday's rain has turned to snow, forming a thin layer of slush on the ground. On Overlook, Sam L. and Scott S. leave their apartment building and cross the street towards the station. Sam is looking very brown, with a dark brown coat, a light brown skirt, and plaid brown boots. Scott is wearing his hood up, like me. I wave hello while they get a newspaper and then head inside.
On the train, I sit next to a small woman who after a few minutes starts sniffing rigorously. When a little bit of snot starts to peek out her nose, I take it as a queue that it’s time to switch seats.
At 59th I run into Sarah S. She is in a rush and runs past me. It's then that I realize I'm already 7 minutes late to work, the second part of my trip still ahead of me.
On the train, I sit next to a small woman who after a few minutes starts sniffing rigorously. When a little bit of snot starts to peek out her nose, I take it as a queue that it’s time to switch seats.
At 59th I run into Sarah S. She is in a rush and runs past me. It's then that I realize I'm already 7 minutes late to work, the second part of my trip still ahead of me.
Friday, February 5
Almost Over
I am not just tired; I am downright wiped, and late. Glad that the week is finally coming to an end, I try to maintain some semblance of a positive outlook as I leave for work. On 186th street I see Sara R. leaving her building, her hair up in a bun.
Turning onto Overlook, I see Jessica S. Her hair is wet and she looks as though she is utterly freezing, as she hugs a garment bag close to her body and her lips slowly turn into a pale shade of blue.
Inside the station, I hear the train approaching and run for it, getting a seat in the first car. Scott and Sam S. are sitting together, nearby. Sam smiles and waves and I wave back to her. At 59th, I get off to switch to the B/D and run into Aliza B. on the platform. She also smiles and waves.
Leaving the subway, I walk to Milk and Honey for a bagel. Micah G. is eating breakfast in what might be a business meeting. I haven’t seen him in ages and actually thought he was still living in Israel. When he gets up to ask for more milk in his coffee, he spots me and says hello, though I think I might have taken him a minute or two to figure out who I am.
Turning onto Overlook, I see Jessica S. Her hair is wet and she looks as though she is utterly freezing, as she hugs a garment bag close to her body and her lips slowly turn into a pale shade of blue.
Inside the station, I hear the train approaching and run for it, getting a seat in the first car. Scott and Sam S. are sitting together, nearby. Sam smiles and waves and I wave back to her. At 59th, I get off to switch to the B/D and run into Aliza B. on the platform. She also smiles and waves.
Leaving the subway, I walk to Milk and Honey for a bagel. Micah G. is eating breakfast in what might be a business meeting. I haven’t seen him in ages and actually thought he was still living in Israel. When he gets up to ask for more milk in his coffee, he spots me and says hello, though I think I might have taken him a minute or two to figure out who I am.
Monday, August 31
The Fall, Almost
It may still be a while till the autumnal equinox, but for most New Yorkers this is this last week of summer. Maybe that’s why there are so many white pants about on my way to work today. There’s a well known rule that white pants are forbidden in the Northeast after Labor Day, and people are trying to squeeze as much summer as they possibly can into these final seven days. More beach, more outings, more summer flings. More white pants.
As I walk into the station I spot Scott S. about a block behind me. I can hear a train pulling into the station and there is a mad rush to through the turnstiles. I don’t understand, since the train is an uptown, but I get closer and I see there is also a downtown train and I run downstairs. I make the train, but only because it is being held at the station.
An Orthodox woman with a black top and flowery skirt runs into the train just as the doors start to close, and her red leather handbag gets caught in between. She grabs hold of the straps with both hands, leans back, and tries to pull it free, like a little girl playing tug of war. The woman is scolded by the conductor before the doors open just wide enough to free the bag.
Sitting across from me is heavy set Hispanic woman, wearing black pants and a black t-shirt with a blue sweater above it. The sweater does not match, and the metallic clasps on her sandals make me cringe when I notice them. The woman is eyeing me suspiciously. I eye back. She looks away momentarily then shuts her eyes for two minutes, and we repeat the process a few more times before she finally gets off.
At 59th I run into Sara S. and we talk about the weekend. She went parasailing with some friends and I went biking and visited my friend Rachel who has just moved into a new apartment. As far as end of summer activities are concerned, she definitely has me beat.
As I walk into the station I spot Scott S. about a block behind me. I can hear a train pulling into the station and there is a mad rush to through the turnstiles. I don’t understand, since the train is an uptown, but I get closer and I see there is also a downtown train and I run downstairs. I make the train, but only because it is being held at the station.
An Orthodox woman with a black top and flowery skirt runs into the train just as the doors start to close, and her red leather handbag gets caught in between. She grabs hold of the straps with both hands, leans back, and tries to pull it free, like a little girl playing tug of war. The woman is scolded by the conductor before the doors open just wide enough to free the bag.
Sitting across from me is heavy set Hispanic woman, wearing black pants and a black t-shirt with a blue sweater above it. The sweater does not match, and the metallic clasps on her sandals make me cringe when I notice them. The woman is eyeing me suspiciously. I eye back. She looks away momentarily then shuts her eyes for two minutes, and we repeat the process a few more times before she finally gets off.
At 59th I run into Sara S. and we talk about the weekend. She went parasailing with some friends and I went biking and visited my friend Rachel who has just moved into a new apartment. As far as end of summer activities are concerned, she definitely has me beat.
Thursday, July 9
Loincloth and Laundry
I'm hoping for another quiet day in the neighborhood as I leave for work. Up late last night and having slept so little, I'm extremely tired and the 20 lbs. of dirty laundry slung over my shoulder isn't helping. I've been sending out my laundry ever since the price of quarters went up, and the only difference today is that I'm late for work and shouldn't have bothered. Unfortunately, I only have one set of sheets left and I'm running low on undies too, so a delay just wouldn't be wise.
On the way to the train station I spot David S. in the distance, too far to even wave. Further on, at 186th street, I run into Esther B. She's on the way to class and complains about the fact that law school runs through the summer. Her hair is set in two small braids, pinned to the sides of her head. I tell her I think her sunglasses look masculine, and she responds that they are Ray-Ban aviators. In this case, neither the brand name nor the style increase femininity, but she insists and we leave the matter alone.
In front of the station, we run into Scott S. When he says hi, Esther points out that we all grew up in Miami, although I'm significantly older than both of them and had already moved to New York when they were still children. The three of us walk to the turnstiles together and Esther and I pass through but Scott experiences a metrocard malfunction. The train is coming so there is no waiting around, we go on without him.
Down the stairs I say goodbye to Esther and quickly head towards my usual spot further on the platform. The train pulls in and just as I board I catch a glimpse of the opera lady through the glass in the doors. I smile but she does not smile back, though it does not matter. Finally alone, I sit back on the nearest bench to enjoy the sweet tunes of Kate Nash playing in my very own earphones, and I think about her and all the things her music reminds me of.
On the way to the train station I spot David S. in the distance, too far to even wave. Further on, at 186th street, I run into Esther B. She's on the way to class and complains about the fact that law school runs through the summer. Her hair is set in two small braids, pinned to the sides of her head. I tell her I think her sunglasses look masculine, and she responds that they are Ray-Ban aviators. In this case, neither the brand name nor the style increase femininity, but she insists and we leave the matter alone.
In front of the station, we run into Scott S. When he says hi, Esther points out that we all grew up in Miami, although I'm significantly older than both of them and had already moved to New York when they were still children. The three of us walk to the turnstiles together and Esther and I pass through but Scott experiences a metrocard malfunction. The train is coming so there is no waiting around, we go on without him.
Down the stairs I say goodbye to Esther and quickly head towards my usual spot further on the platform. The train pulls in and just as I board I catch a glimpse of the opera lady through the glass in the doors. I smile but she does not smile back, though it does not matter. Finally alone, I sit back on the nearest bench to enjoy the sweet tunes of Kate Nash playing in my very own earphones, and I think about her and all the things her music reminds me of.
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