Subway Sardines

Four years ago, I left Manhattan to become a Brooklynite again. The daily commute was easy as it is 1 local and 3 express stops. My hours were 9 to 5, then 9 to 6 but it didn't bother me. Occasionally, I'd quip about the funk of getting onto the express train. I thought it was crowded then.

Holy smokes! It's much worse today. I'd estimate a 25% increase, easily. As I was filing up the staircase this morning, I wondered if there was an opposite or negative or mirror word for "serendipity". I searched for a word while musing if moving work hours to 830-530 was actually an unintended good thing but suck balls because:

-I grown fond of sleeping and am often late. I stroll in around 930 and could care less what they say;
-being on the platform at 740AM under the new hours was crowd-light and, occasionally, I saw my cousin taking her daughter to school; and,
-there was a cutie who I think I knew from grade school but couldn't be sure. Eventually, she stopped showing up and I presumed that she moved.

Since Monday, I found myself back on the old 9-to-5 schedule AND when I was on time. Holy smokes, it was packed.

What will it be like in another 4 years? I would dread having to push myself to 8 to 6 hours just the avoid the morning rush.

Who saw Nip/Tuck last night? Aren't the writers doing a fabulous job this season? Also, which Beauty and the Geek would you vote for? It's a toss-up for me.

McDonalds Update

I finally made it to the other McDonalds this morning. I didn't see a sign up so I asked the woman behind the counter if the special was still on. This is her reply:

"Yes, but it's 2 for $4 here."

Wonderful!

Chinatown McDonalds

This morning I went to the McDonalds on Bowery Street to get 2 sausage egg mcmuffin for $3 as has been advertised on television. When the manager (so she seems since she wasn't sporting any standard fry girl or big mac gear) told me the cost was $3.57, I knew something was wrong. Despite a large sign behind the counter clearly stating that it was 2 for $3, she said that the register was showing $3.29 plus $0.28 in tax. She couldn't do anything about it but said that I could order something else or pay $2.59 for one sandwich.

Since it's been a while, I paid the $3.57. Plus, my friend rolled her eyes and said "it's only 30 cents more." Still, it's the principal. When I got home, I realized that I should have asked for a receipt.

I'm going to the other McDonalds in the Chinatown tomorrow morning to see if they're charging $3.57 too. If so, I'm definitely asking for a receipt.

Two fingers in the nose and pull...

I want to rip this guy's face off this morning. The sonofabitch doesn't seem to want to do any critical credit analysis of proposals written up by myself or my boss or my other sales colleagues. Rather, his modus operandi is to point out negative comments from external sources and to embellish with his broken English. How the fuck are we going to get things done if he "recommends" deals but litters his write-up with fuck-shit-up bombs? This guy doesn't seem to understand nor grasp the idea that if deals get done and the portfolio grows, everyone gets paid. Stupid fuck.

By the way, his name is Geoffrey. I think it means "Get fucked by me" and "I'm just a cocksucker." Either way, I'll gladly welcome suggestions on how to rearrange his fucking face and/or to boot him from the company.

0.8 Chic

As usual, I glance around the subway car to see what folks are there and what they might be doing. Then I return to reading the Times. This morning, a mother was nervously watching three kids (presumably hers since they looked varied in age). Upon my arrival, I glimpsed a woman dolled up with neatly coiffed hair just above her set scarf over her peacoat shouldering her Tumi (I'm guessing here) tote bag while donning jeans and pointed shoes. As my standards are low, I'd probably hit it.

Going with the exiting flow, I found myself behind her and came to the conclusion that I wouldn't hit it. Why? Because she didn't smell nice. In fact, she didn't have any scent to go with her chic-ness. Thus, 0.8 is subtracted.

As some friends told me once, you need to have standards, even the bare minimum. For me, it would be a mild and positive scent.