Let me begin by saying that I think our President, George W. Bush is stalking me! First in Orlando we had to sit it in traffic because he was going to drive by on an overpass and now in New York City! There's nothing like sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting to leave because of the extra security! Granted the United Nations was about to go into sessions but after our flight out to New YorK on a redeye ... I was not enjoying my quality time in the confines of an American airline.
By the way, redeye's suck! This is probably not a surprise to most people, but if you are budget concious, it is an option that I've unfortunately leveraged many times for my trips to the East coast. Now, I’m not sure when I crossed the point of no return, but I will either need to win the lottery so I can fly first class or I will need to rethink the whole, “let’s have an extra day in NYC!” mentality that comes from arriving at one’s destination in the morning. We had a two stage trip to NYC through Chicago and it wasn't a good thing. We left San Francisco about 11:30pm Wed and didn't really get a chance to sleep. Frank and I scared quite a few people as we made our way down the aisle. You could almost see the little prayer bubbles rising above their heads, “Please God, I’ll do anything, just don’t make me sit between the two of them!” Smaller, older planes and Frank’s knees were touching the seat in front of him even BEFORE the midget tried to fully recline.
This trip was quite timely. I had received a job offer and had submitted my resignation the day before we left to my supervisor, who also shares my birthday. We had discussed how the news was going to be communicated and I let a few of my colleagues know in person that I would be leaving prior to the public announcement that would go out during my absence. That way, I got out of the initial phone calls and such and let the idea settle in before returning for my actual birthday with my fellow Virgos.
The Triplets
On my first day at Franklin Templeton, Elaine, my supervisor introduced me to her twin a lovely Caucasian women, which wouldn’t have been so odd, had my supervisor not been a lovely Asian woman. Hmm. There must be a story there … and they read my confusion by clarifying that they shared the same birthday … September 19! To which I added, well I am your long lost triplet! Over the past five years we’ve always gone out to lunch and got together to bring in the birthday treat for the office. After I got back from NYC, we celebrated with cake and we went to dim sum, where against my better judgment tried chicken feet. Now Elaine claimed that the process was such that the chicken feet were very similar in taste and texture to Buffalo wings. Linda was going to try one after me … but apparently I was unable to hide my shock … and I’ll just say that it is one delicacy that I will leave for others to enjoy. It didn’t help that the leftovers were left in the back seat of my car! Oy vey. But, I’m ahead of myself since I haven’t even been to NYC at this point!
New York City
This was our first trip to NYC this year and both Frank and I were excited. Our friend Steve had offered us the use of his apartment while he was in Italy. Our plans were simple, enjoy a few shows, go out to eat, take the circle line around Manhattan, do whatever we wanted to as the spirit move us and finally we we planned our visit Malle and Grandma Uzman. This was not quite as sedate as our pool vacation to Las Vegas, but it didn't have that "MUST SEE EVERYTHING" some of our trips to NYC have had in the past. It was also really nice to have an apartment close to the subway and not have to deal with other people on vacation.
The Shows
Our first show was a live taping of the Daily Show with John Stewart. It was raining and Frank bartered for an umbrella and he bought a bright red poncho (see the hot picture!) and he was not too proud to wear it. Me? I used the umbrella or endured the rain. Jet lag and rain are not a good combination and after a short nap we arrived at 3:30 and were lucky to get a spot under the awning where we enjoyed the liberals discuss all sorts of liberal topics. Who knew Bush bashing could be so droll. I’m not a good waiter (as in a person who waits). We waited 2 ½ hours before they let us in. The wait was long enough to get really annoyed with the relationships on display. One couple got into a passive aggressive fight when the girl bummed a cigarette. Turns out they had met via J Date, an online dating service for Jews. The couple directly in front of us used the time to explore the recesses of each other's mouths and while I'm not against heterosexuals flaunting their preferences in front of me ... I draw the line at people talking baby talk while doing it in public. Goochie goochie goo.
Another oddity was the fact that there was a lactose tolerance campaign going on at the same time. Support Chocolate, strawberry and banana flavored milk! I got a button and am now gratefully aware of the pain that milk drinkers have had to endure! We were suprised by the demographics of the people in line. Like I said I was eavesdropping on other conversations for 2 1/2 hours and listening to my make-out babies before they let us in. We had to go through the metal detector and then listen to the cell phone nazi yell out people who pulled out their phones for another 45 minutes before Jon Stewart came out. It wasn't run as smoothly as some other tapings.... lots of waiting without any entertainment. Our guest star was Norm MacDonald, who makes Canadians seem a little creepy, though I have to admit his line about the crocodiles discussing the fact that the Croc Hunter was done in by some fairy fish was funny.
Our second show was the The Drowsy Chaperone and as shows go, I laughed, I cried, I nearly wet my pants, though this was probably due to the fact that there was not intermission! And it also helped that we sat a mere six seats away from a legendary celebrity. Ironically, Frank had just made the comment that we had been in NYC for over 24 hours and had not had a celebrity sighting. 30 seconds later, he turns to me and says, "Check out the hair coming down the aisle." Now, I can be a little slow at times and the realist in me pops out before the brain fully engages. Soooo ... I look up and see this woman walking down the aisle with a huge afro and my first thought is, I'm glad she's not sitting in front of me. Frank told me to look again and then I realized that under the hair was the Miss Diana Ross, who I met five years ago following her concert in San Francisco and a banker's conference. Needless to say, I was happy that she sat in our row and the titters were audible. "That woman looks just like Diana Ross!" Really? We rode the escalator out with her and when it started to feel invasive, left her alone, and no, she never acknowledged our brief encounter. Sigh.
So if you haven't heard of the show, I highly recommend it! Here's what Wikipedia had to say:
In the darkness, we hear a theatregoer's lament, a prayer for the current state
of the Musical. The lights come up; we see our narrator, a rather ordinary man,
sitting in a chair in his rather ordinary New York apartment. He admits that he
is blue and in a state of "nonspecific sadness," so he asks us to escape with
him as he plays the LP of his favourite musical: Gable & Stein's The Drowsy
Chaperone, which stars among others, Beatrice Stockwell in the title role a full
fifteen years before she became Dame Beatrice Stockwell. "Mixups, Mayhem and a
Gay Wedding" reads the album cover (the phrase "gay wedding" having different
connotations in 1928). Dropping the needle on his hi-fi, Man In Chair's imagination takes flight as suddenly the recorded overture surges into a live orchestra. Soon, his apartment transforms itself, becoming the stage of the Morosco Theater in New York, and the musical comes to life around him, with characters emerging from his Murphy bed and refrigerator and sets descending from his ceiling.
Our third show, purchased at the temporary home of the TKTS booth, was Avenue Q. Avenue Q is a Broadway musical that has risqué songs about racism, Internet porn, and the difficulties of life, and all but three characters are portrayed by puppets. The show is largely inspired by (and in the style of) PBS's Sesame Street, with several characters that are recognizably parodies of classic Muppet characters. For example, the roommates Rod and Nicky are adult versions of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, and Trekkie Monster seems to be based on Cookie Monster. Likewise, many of Avenue Q's musical numbers are in a style associated with classic Sesame Street songs. Because of its adult content and "full puppet nudity" (including graphic simulated sex between puppets), Avenue Q may be inappropriate for children 12 years of age, which with the exception of my sister's children should not share the same space as adults who paid $100+ to see a show. Broadway is not the place to begin teaching manners to squirmey little children unless the show is Disney's Beauty and the Beast or the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. I know, I know, if I had children I would have a different opinion.
Betsy, one of Frank's good friends joined us for Avenue Q. While we were waiting for her, we walked up to the box office for The Color Purple. I was hoping that the show would be on the TKTS for half price but our only time to see the show was the Sunday matinee. While waiting in line we quickly when the woman in front of us purchased 150 tickets for her church group that we would be in the minority in the theater. We got tickets so this became our fourth show, and even with a mid-town strip to button down shirts, we were under dressed in comparison to the church folks. Oprah has given her blessing on the show and I think her money! Now, the musical doesn't have the same impact as the book or the Spielberg movie, but there are some really memorable songs and the audience response to "Hell No!" was worth the price of admission.
The People
We got the chance to spend a bit of time with different people over the weekend and spent the evening with our host Stever before he left for Italy. Friday morning, we woke up and met my step sister as Frank calls her. Actually, Elira, an exchange student from Albania, lived with my folks for four years and is just like family. We met in the rain and our plans to do a little sight seeing was put on hold. It will be interesting to see how things turn out once she finds an apartment and a permanent job. After lunch in the Upper Westside we took the subway down to Sea Port and then to Little Italy for the San Genarro Festival (www.sangennaro.org/). Rain didn't make this fun, but we were in NYC.
Saturday night after dinner at the Red Cat we met Eva and Charlie at the G Bar. We found a alcove and spent nearly three hours chatting and catching up. Sunday was our day alone and we ate the Empire Diner and headed to the Circle Line where we took a boat ride around the island and got to see up close the 19 bridges and passed over 2 tunnels. Good times. And finally on Monday we headed out to Long Island to visit Malle and Grandma Uzman. The ladies had prepared a birthday lunch including a delicious chocolate cake. Pepper was quite mellow this trip and it was a really enjoyable afternoon.
And then Bush had to disrupt our flight home! What to say? It was a great trip and I can't wait until our next trip in 2007!
