Let's talk trash

Seeing as how I was born a female, I have the ability to gossip like it's my 6th sense. I have in the past been know to trash talk people, but today I do not want to wildly complain about a person, I want to discuss trash. As in the stuff you throw away.

Growing up trash was thrown away inside the house, then taken outside to the trashcan and then moved to the street on trash days. (I didn't ever move it, but it was magically always at the street on trash days......thanks Mom.) Efficient, clean, and neighborhood friendly.

In New York, I am playing a whole new ball game. In my neighborhood, there is trash spewing out quicker then last Summer's oil spill. As you walk down the street, the trash is everywhere. Literally

Sometimes it is nicely tied up in a bag

Sometimes it is thrown down the subway stairs

Sometimes it looks like it was tossed out of a window

(You, trash leaving neighbor, do NOT <3 NYC)

Then, on occasion, you get the pile of trash that has accumulated all week silently waiting for trash day. This foul smelling, gag inducing pile is awful to walk by, which I have to each day on my way to the subway. On a good day the smell is terrible and it is only worsened by the heat in which you literally have to cover your nose and run. I am not sure which neighbors are responsible for this mess, but you can find anything ranging from everyday trash to furniture to baby strollers waiting on the side of the road.

(Both of these piles are blocks from my apartment...anyone up for trash diving...I know I saw a lamp!)

Needless to say, I saw my first mouse today. I am sure it has everything to do with the trash that covers most areas of NYC, but I was still shocked. The picture isn't great because these things move really quick and my phone was in my pocket, but I got an OK shot.

This would be inside the subway terminal, which hey, has trash littered all over. Imagine that.

New York is full of surprises and I plan to talk about them all.

What I Did Today - Sightseeing Edition!

Today was a really fun day! I took advantage of some of NYC's free sights and got 2 things knocked off my August Bucket List!


First, I took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry takes you from the South Street Seaport in Manhattan to Staten Island. The ride takes about 25 minutes each way and the best part is that it is absolutly FREE to everyone. Even better than the cost is the sight that you can see from the ferry!


Lower Manhattan!


The Statue of Liberty!


The NYPD racing a tugboat :)


Multiple Bridges on the way back from Staten Island.

After I got back to Manhattan, I headed to Union Square for the Farmer's Market! It was a fantastic market full of fresh food where I forgot to take pictures, but I managed to take a picture of the goodies I bought when I got home.


I purchased a homemade loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, fingerling potatoes, a bunch of rainbow carrots, an heirloom tomato, and 2 white peaches. I am looking forward to some roasted vegetables later tonight and some cinnamon raisin bread for breakfast tomorrow.

It was a very successful day of sightseeing and shopping in New York.

Wordless Wednesday

Subway Stories

Dear Woman sleeping on the train,

I wanted to let you know that I don't appreciate you. It is not polite to take up more than 1 seat on a crowded train. It is also not ok to snore in public. I can understand that it is Monday morning and your weekend was probably totally crazy, but please find a new place to take a mid morning snooze. Those of us on the train do not want to hear the sound of your Ipod, and we would ask you to turn it down..except your sleeping. I'm not sure how you are sleeping because well your Ipod is blaring, there are a thousand and 1 people moving back and forth through the car, there are brights lights, and most importantly the alarms and announcements that start each time the train stops. You must be a deep sleeper.

I also wanted to let you know that sleeping on the train with your phone in your hand is not safe. You are asking for someone to "borrow" your phone. Same thing with your purse. I would be more careful when choosing where to lay my head down. Speaking of your head, it was leaning on the poles, which is gross. There are millions of people who touch those poles and you don't know what kind of crap is on their hands. Why would you put your face on that? I would highly recommend a bath in antibacterial soap.

Last but certainly not least, if you choose to fall asleep on the subway and then suddenly wake up in a coughing fit, don't get angry with the people around you. It was not our fault you missed your stop. We kindly let you know what stop was next. I think that maybe you should just return home and start your day over again. Or just go back to bed. Just please promise me you won't sleep on the subway again.

Sincerely,
Your fellow subway rider

When life happens

I am slowly starting to make the move from the apartment I subletted (is that a word, what is the past tense of sublet) to the apartment I rented. The transition is going to be awesome yet there are some amenities that will be lacking at my new apartment..

1. Bedroom Furniture - Who needs it? I am going to be timewarping back to my girl scouts years via an air mattress. I'm roughing it, if you will. It isn't that big of an issue though because I don't have much with me yet. The majority of my possessions are still in Florida and will be making the move towards the end of the month.

2. Cable - My roommate and I have both decided that cable is a bill that we can wait on for the next few months. I cannot remember a time when my apartment has not had cable. Not that I have to watch TV each day, but I love to spend my lazy days catching up on the Law and Order marathon. I also have some shows that I do watch regularly. Who wants to feel me in on Pretty Little Liars and Grey's Anatomy?

3. AC - Ok. So this isn't really something I am giving up when I move, because I don't have it in the apartment now, but it still worries me. New York can be hot and I am an AC snob from Florida. I never understood what I had until it was gone.

4. Elevated trains- The subway is my primary mode of transportation around here and I have had the luxury of coming into Brooklyn each night on the M train, which is above ground. This means that I can text, check Facebook on my phone, figure out directions, etc. When I move, I will be on a way more convenient train line, but it is beneath ground which means that when I get lost, I have to leave the subway station and reemerge into the city before my phone will catch a signal to figure out that I was on the right train that just left and I will have to wait another 12 minutes for another train to get there. True story.

5. Space - The new apartment is much smaller, but I like it. My room is 8x10. That's incredibly tiny for me. We also have really strange kitchen cabinets. We haven't quite figured out what to do with them yet.

Although there are a few things I will miss about this sublet, I am excited about the new apartment. I am moving into Manhattan, I will live on a better train line, and will be much closer to many things.

Plus, I have a dish washer and a washer/dryer in my apartment. This means I might actually wash my clothes frequently instead of waiting until the very last day possible.

Plus Plus, I live on the fifth floor of a five story walk up. Five Story walk up. I won't need a gym membership because I have my very own stairmaster.

Plus Plus Plus, We have a fire escape, which we have to have legally, but it is still very exciting for me. I sometimes hope that someone will climb the fire escape and sing, pretty woman style.

Wordless Wednesday

Every Wednesday I will post a picture that represents my day!

August Bucket List

It's August! I would like to think of it as the beginning of the end of Summer and I could not be more excited about that fact. Although I have managed to maintained my pasty white complexion all Summer I am so ready for boots and scarves! To help wind down the Summer, I have created a tiny list of things I want to accomplish during August!

See the old City Hall Subway Station - a subway station that has been shut down for 50 years, but you can see it if you stay on the 6 train past it's last station as it goes to turn around. The station is said to be beautiful and have ornate ceilings with chandeliers and glass.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge - A great source of exercise and fantastic views of the city!

Visit the Union Square Farmer's Market - Who doesn't love a market? I plan to purchase some fruits and veggies that are still in season :)

Guggenheim Museum - A must see museum and it has a great pay what you please rate on Saturday evenings.

Eat from a food truck - I have been dying to do this for the past month, but I think I am going to try it. People say the food is awesome and I am intrigued.

Visit the Highline - A park that hosts local art and has great places to sit and people watch with a beautiful scenic background.

Take the Staten Island ferry and get a decent view of Lady Liberty - 1. because it is free and 2. because Lady Liberty is a wonderful sight!

Go to 4 free events (about 1 per week) - concerts/comedy shows/ book signings - One of the things that really peaked my intrest about New York is the array of free events around the city. I have not been taking part in nearly enough of them and I am going to try harder to get myself out and about at least once a week.

Read 2 new books - I love reading and while I am not working I have plenty of time to catch up on my book list. Plus, the subway offers ideal conditions for reading.