April 19, 2010

• You Dork

  For the past two days, I’ve had Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Empire State Of Mind stuck in my head. I realize that the song was a hit about six months ago, but as we know, black people start the trends and make something popular and then a few months later, after the popularity fades, white people catch on because they are trying to be  hip. And then a few months after that, I finally catch on, but its usually only after the rest of the world has moved on to the next, next popular thing. I first heard the song at a piano bar back in February and I had no idea what it was, but it sure sounded good.

  Nevertheless, the song is a wonderful anthem for New York City. It makes me want to go to NYC. I’ve been to New York once before, 12 years ago, and it was only for a few days; not nearly long enough. All I know is that it was amazing. Being from the Chicagoland area, I know I’m not supposed to say that New York is better than Chicago, but the reality is that it is. In fact, its not even close. I just remember making that turn into Times Square at 7pm on a Tuesday night and seeing just a sea of humanity of people, buildings, vehicles and bright lights. I’ve always been distracted by bright and shiny things and I guess it was a good thing I wasn’t driving. There was just so much traffic, and everybody and everything was cutting us off in every direction imaginable. There were cars, taxis, buses, bicyclists, cops, pedestrians and pigeons cutting us off from every direction; to the left, to the right, in front of us, hell even above us! The people were less than friendly, but I still loved it. Although we saw a lot of things, I don’t think we even got see the best of New York. We went to the Empire State building (I’ve got a picture of a toilet from the Empire State building…………….how many people actually have a picture of that? Then again, why would somebody have a picture of a fucking toilet anyway?), the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and we even ate at Mendy’s which was made famous by Seinfeld. It was the first time I ever ate at a Jewish restaurant and I remember ordering spaghetti and meatballs and when I asked for cheese they told me no because its not kosher.

  Now all of a sudden, I really want to go back. There is nothing like New York. Its why everybody wants to go there. There are many songs sung about New York. Although I haven’t been overseas, I’d like to think New York is the greatest city in the world, but honestly, I don’t know enough about the world’s other great cities like London or Paris, to be able to make such a bold statement.

  I’ve got the money to go, its just that realistically, I don’t have somebody to go with me. And without somebody to go with to cut down on some of the cost, its pretty damn expensive. Fuck it. I’m going to New York.

  Or not. No, I’m not going. But I want to go. Damn I love to travel. I should get a job that sends me to all sorts of places, like New York or Washington D.C. or prison. Wait. Maybe not prison. I’m not saying I would want to spend tons of time away from home, but maybe a few days a week. That would be cool and a great way to see the world. Instead I’m stuck here where I have to struggle just to go to the bathroom! Traveling has always been a passion of mine. And every now and then, I get to a point in the year when I really get the urge and the itch to go somewhere. I love a nice, long road trip or even better a train trip. I just don’t think I’m going to be able to go somewhere this year for various reasons.

  • 11:00 pm
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