Random Thoughts

I didn't do so well at getting to my new thing last week, but I think I'm overdue to blog. Here's some thoughts on what I did do and also just random stuff about living in NYC:

• Friday I got the day off. Yeah! For some reason Nelson (the pastor) gave us all the day off. Completely unheard of. Anyway, it was SO nice!! Joy and I decided to spend it at the FREE Central Park pool again. I decided to try to run there with my backpack on-- in it was my towel, swimsuit, a bottle of water, a heavy lock for the locker, etc... Basically, the running with a backpack on didn't go so well, so I walked. All the way up from where I live below the south end of the park to the very tip top, about 3 miles. I got to see a lot of the park I hadn't seen before, so that was nice. I was basically on the west side the whole time...I need to do it again, but over on the east side.
• Saturday I got to attend another roof-top party. Joy had a housewarming party, but we spent a lot of time on her roof. It was great fun!
• I worked the first 3 services at church yesterday-- they were short on people and needed someone to lead the counting teams after each service (fyi...we count the offering). So, I did that. I don't mind helping out the occasional Sunday when I'm needed. In fact, I kind of enjoyed it!
• As I walked through the park Saturday, I saw the longest line of people who had obviously been camped out there for hours. I was running late, so I couldn't stop to figure out what was going on. Later, I learned that they were in line for FREE tickets to Shakespeare in the Park. Apparently there is always a long line for those plays and you have to get there by 6AM and they don't start handing out tickets until 1pm. Then you go back that night to see the play. Meryl Streep is actually in the one that is playing right now..."Mother Courage". So, that's an extra draw. A girl I know waited on Saturday for tickets, but they didn't get there until 7:00 and didn't get any. They're going back this weekend, but earlier. Each person can get 2 tickets, so she said I could have one! I feel bad taking a ticket and not waiting in the line, but if she offers again, I'm going!
• People smoke marijuana like crazy in this city. I smell it all the time just walking down the street. When I first moved into my apartment before I bought my air conditioner, I had to sleep with my window open. I woke up about 3 times a week to the smell of pot coming in from one of the other apartments....lovely.
• I haven't done laundry since I got here. See, most apartments have no washer/dryer...there's just not room. Mine actually has a community washer/dryer in the basement. But, the basement creeps me out and something about doing my laundry there seems dirty. Plus, before I moved into my apartment and was living in the temporary places, I got used to dropping my stuff off at the Chinese laundromats. I'm spoiled!! You drop it off in the morning and it's ready to be picked up on your way home. I've decided that it's not much more expensive than doing it myself once you add up all the quarters it would take for the washer, then the dryer, plus the cost of buying detergent.
• I wrote a blog a while back about my job/office environment. I didn't mention the view from my window. I'm really the only person in the office who can sit at their desk and look out the window, just because of the way my desk is situated. The view is of the Hudson River and it is awesome! The water is really blue and on the other side of the river it's green and lush looking. There are always boats on the water. I've been told that the cruise ships sail right past there, but I haven't see one of those go by yet. It's really nice, though! At least until about 4:45 when the sun starts coming in and it gets really, really hot and there's a glare on my computer...I'm not complaining, though!
• Tomorrow night is Usher's debut in Chicago on Broadway. I hope to be by the theatre about the time they let out to see if I can catch a glimpse of Usher and maybe some other famous people who show up for his premiere.
• Before stalking Usher tomorrow, my Growth Group is having our end-of-summer party. We're having a picnic in the park and at 8:00 the Metropolitan Opera is performing there.
• I found out today that Lance Armstrong is running the NYC marathon this year. I'd been thinking about getting involved in volunteering for the marathon, but now I definitely want to so I can catch a glimpse of Lance!
• I have friends visiting in just a little over 2 weeks and that starts the steady flow of visitors I am expecting through the end of the year. I am SO excited and know that this will mean new adventures and experiences...and much more to blog about for you readers!