Lexington
I watched Better Off Dead last night - such a great 80s movie. Maybe not as good as The Breakfast Club (probably my favorite), 16 Candles or Pretty in Pink but it's right up there. "TWO DOLLARS!", it's a classic! Anyway, that meant I didn't get to sleep til 2:30 or so and in turn I slept rather late. It's not like I had anything else to do so it was quite nice. I decided that I wanted to go out and considered several museums but then I couldn't bring myself to stand inside all day looking at art work that I may or may not enjoy (I wasn't going to go to the MET). Plus all the museums I was thinking about charge 10-15 bucks (way more than my usual 50 cents or dollar). Plus it being a Sunday and a little chilly I figured all the tourists would be packed into the museums anyway - so I'll wait for a week day when I feel like actually paying to see art. This is the second to last weekend that I'll be in the city and who knows how the weather will be for my last one. I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible and was a little bummed I spent half of it sick - oh well. I decided to take the subway uptown and get off some place, I wasn't totally sure where but once I got there I got off at 68th (school) and then walked down Lexington. I'd never walked all the way down Lexington. I loved it. I walked past Bloomingdale's (which does not have their window displays up for Christmas yet but I'm very excited for them) and then went in H&M to look around. All the stores were fairly packed with people, since it was a weekend but the holiday shopping is starting - yikes! how can it be already! Lexington was great because it starts out, up by Hunter, as large business buildings, Hunter, and big apartment buildings. As you keep going downtown it turns into a bit more touristy shopping, which reminds me a lot of shopping in downtown Seattle. I stopped at Starbucks on 57th to grab a latte and call Steven. I talked to him until 42nd at which point he realized he had more homework than he thought and needed to go work on it. I like being able to call him in the afternoon occasionally, very rarely do I get to talk to him during the day - especially during the week - so it's always fun to catch him when he's just hanging out in his room so we can talk about nothing (like we usually do). Further down Lexington turns into smaller residences and small shops. The housing is beautiful on Lexington, if I lived in NYC that's where I would want to live - about 38th and Lexington. I saw a bunch of limos and other attractive cars in that part of town too, and a Great Dane being walked by a very tiny woman who I swear was as tall as the dog. Lexington is the kind of place you could spend your entire life because it keeps changing. It's a straight line but there are always new things popping up in the next block. The crisp, over cast weather with the slight breeze kept me moving pretty well too - so many the blocks didn't change as much as I'm imagining. But New York is beautiful when you keep buds (aka head phones) out of your ears, your hands out of your pockets and your eyes off the sidewalk, look up and around and having those amusing double takes while people watching or trying to read the small print of a sign across the street. Any city is ugly when you stare at it's streets, but looking at the tops of buildings and into the windows as you pass, even if it might seem touristy, is the best way to see a city.
Safina and I have our doors open right now and Nick and Safina are having an absolutely hilarious dance party right now. They're breaking out all their "best" moves - awesome. I am so horrified.
Since returning from my excursion I've been reading The Winter's Tale for tomorrow as I realized that I'm supposed to have it finished - I doubt I'll get it done but it's going to be real close.