Wow, the end of an era.
Today, after 6 years, I finally took down my "Free Ballard" bumper sticker. Also today, Archie McPhee's, that wonderfully insane store wherein I purchased the bumper sticker, moved its location from Ballard to Wallingford.
I've had it hanging on my bedroom door ever since I moved to New York City in the fall of 2003. For all that time, it's been there, reminding me of Archie McPhee's all the way back in Ballard. For all that time, I've had the pleasure of trying to explain the sticker's meaning to the foolish New Yorkers who just don't understand. For all that time, it's brought a smile to my face, knowing that I was helping to fight the silly fight.
Unfortunately, I now must leave this apartment, so the "Free Ballard" sticker came down. But I can at least take solace in the fact that I gave up the fight for a liberated Ballard on the same day that Archie McPhee fled for new environs.
Sorry Ballard!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
You know you're too sensitive when...
Coming home this evening, I found myself once again on the crowded and odorous 1 train. Although I hate to diminish the wonders of that fast-moving tube, I have to admit I was playing my iPod in an attempt to drown out the surrounding reality.
The man who sat down next to me was doing a better job at the reality denial.
He walked over, deep in conversation. Apparently with himself. Or possibly with someone else of the invisible persuasion. Then he sat down next to me, kind of close. But, hey, it's the subway! Where it's socially acceptable to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the sanity-questionable.
After a couple of minutes, he may have said something to me. Not sure, of course, because a) I was listening to my iPod and trying to ignore everything around me, and b) he had been conversing steadily with the air for several minutes at this point.
It seemed, however, that my non-reaction did not sit well with him. He paused and seemed to look a little sad or maybe angry. Then he abruptly got up and moved to the other side of the train, smiling and agreeing with himself that this move was for the best.
After a minute, all seemed to be right again in his not-right world.
I, on the other hand, kind of felt hurt that he'd rejected me.
The man who sat down next to me was doing a better job at the reality denial.
He walked over, deep in conversation. Apparently with himself. Or possibly with someone else of the invisible persuasion. Then he sat down next to me, kind of close. But, hey, it's the subway! Where it's socially acceptable to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with the sanity-questionable.
After a couple of minutes, he may have said something to me. Not sure, of course, because a) I was listening to my iPod and trying to ignore everything around me, and b) he had been conversing steadily with the air for several minutes at this point.
It seemed, however, that my non-reaction did not sit well with him. He paused and seemed to look a little sad or maybe angry. Then he abruptly got up and moved to the other side of the train, smiling and agreeing with himself that this move was for the best.
After a minute, all seemed to be right again in his not-right world.
I, on the other hand, kind of felt hurt that he'd rejected me.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Things suck.
You know what sucks? Moving.
You know what else sucks? Unemployment.
You know what else sucks? The cable company.
You know what else sucks? Humidity.
You know what else sucks? Not hearing back from an interview.
You know what else sucks? Having to mooch off my increasingly broke parents.
This is one of those times that is supposed to build character. Character is over-rated.
Shopping is cool though. When I was forced to travel to the upper tip of Manhattan (literally -- I walked into the Bronx to get the train home) in order to get a form to transfer our cable service to my roommate, I actually SAW the New York Target store! It looked very pretty.
I'll have to go back there someday when I have this mysterious and out-of-reach thing known as a "home."
Until then, back to the packing. Storage unit, here I come!
You know what else sucks? Unemployment.
You know what else sucks? The cable company.
You know what else sucks? Humidity.
You know what else sucks? Not hearing back from an interview.
You know what else sucks? Having to mooch off my increasingly broke parents.
This is one of those times that is supposed to build character. Character is over-rated.
Shopping is cool though. When I was forced to travel to the upper tip of Manhattan (literally -- I walked into the Bronx to get the train home) in order to get a form to transfer our cable service to my roommate, I actually SAW the New York Target store! It looked very pretty.
I'll have to go back there someday when I have this mysterious and out-of-reach thing known as a "home."
Until then, back to the packing. Storage unit, here I come!
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