rachelpink rides the bus

Rule Almost Broken

I almost broke my #1 office rule today: No crying.

Thanks to my friends, biting my lip, and a Subway sandwich, the rule remained unbroken.

Getting There

Since starting back at DK, I've taken the V to work.

I generally didn't have to wait v. long for it. After the first Manhattan stop, I could be guaranteed a seat. It's quiet. I like the way the seats are arranged. And there are ample poles to hold on to.

At the W. 4th station, the V line lives in the bowels of the earth. The stairs are high. If the light is on, the escalator works. The light isn't always on. I walk up one set of stairs. Then I walk toward W. 3rd for a spell. Then I emerge near the C/E platform. A small walk up the corridor, one small set of stairs, and I'm out.

A few weeks ago I decided to hop on the R train instead. I don't know why I did it, I was probably running late. I R stops at Queens Plaza, and I can transfer to the E. The E is always crowded. There aren't enough poles or seats. It's almost impossible for me to knit.

The rub is this--the V is a better commute. But studies show that waiting for the V wastes anywhere from 5-15 commuting minutes. So I have to hop on the first train that arrives at my station.

You'd be appalled to know how much time I've spent thinking about this.

Feverish

Woke up and didn't feel good. Went to gym anyway. Started running and had to stop. Feverish running can only lead to trouble. So I walked for 30 minutes, and stumbled home. I've already taken an Airborne.

Work is too busy for me to get sick. That said, I'm in the middle of 2 great books, Joan Didion's recent memoir and Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle. The thought of spending today in bed and reading--feverish or not--tempts me.

Oh, no such luck. Meetings from 1-4 today and tomorrow. Books will have to wait.

#1 Single

Chuck's friend Allen was featured on an episode of Lisa Loeb's new show tonight.

He didn't come out looking that great. That said, taking a girl out for a donut date should score a guy some points.

Hair Apparent

It happened.

Chuck cut his hair. Here's the story in pictures.

Tequila Friday

My lovely, lots-o'-work-done week ended on a low note.

By 5:30 I was miserable and wondering how long I'd stay.

Then one of my editor friends sent an email, "Let's go get drinks?" In the blink of an eye, Bess and I were in our coats and waiting by the elevator. Drinks sounded good. Real good.

With editor Brian's gentle encouragement, some tequila shots arrived. I ended up doing 2. And drinking 2 beers--and that's by far the most I've had to drink in a looooong while. And it turned into one of the most enjoyable evenings I've had in a very long while.

I will admit to being a v. bad girlfriend and not telling Chuck where I was. In fact, I had no cell phone, so I had to borrow Nicole's. Chuck was worried, so I made Brian explain things. It didn't help that I was too drunk to explain things myself.

But I got home (stumbled home) safe and unharmed. And then Chuck made me english muffin pizzas, cementing his position as most-excellent boyfriend.

Things I Liked About Today

Yama lunch. I like roe! I like shrimp!

No boss! Lots of work done.

Running for 3 minutes straight without dying. Heart rate steady.

Grey Dog coffee. Grey Dog bran banana blueberry muffin.

No cat scratches. Yet.

So Much To Do--So Much Time

I'd like to bottle this weekend. Stayed busy, but had time for a nap. Knit a little, read a little. Went to dinner with Chuck's friends at Joe's Shanghai and feasted on soup dumplings, fish that tasted like chicken cordon bleu, beautiful green pea shoot things, and salty green beans. Finished my first volunteer project and my second week of 5K training (and damn, that was a hard, sweaty workout). Cooked a pot roast.

And I have a week ahead of me with NO MEETINGS. I know, I know. It's a shock. No meetings. I'm still processing that.

Paint By Numbers

I spent 4 hours today painting a mural in an elementary school with some other folks from NY Cares. Talk about a feeling of accomplishment--the walls of the stairwell were bare when we arrived and they were bright and sunny when we left. I'll try to upload my camera-phone pix later.

I learned a few lessons. First, I'm not a very good painter--but I'm also not a completely lost cause. My first red apple (and keep in mind I was painting a pre-drawn apple) was shapeless and blobby. My second apple? Lovely. And when the leaf painter fancied it up, it really looked like something. I also painted some letters (lmnop, qrst) purple, and some numbers (12345) green. At the very end, I worked with another volunteer and painted a mauve border all across the top and bottom of the design. That part was easy--just had to stay in between two strips of tape. Even I can do that.

The people were nice, the principal gave us a present (a pen), and I only got a little paint on myself.

I liked it so much, I've already signed up for two more projects--I'm going to do food prep at God's Love We Deliver and then I'll deliver some food to old homebound people. This all seems fun. Thanks Meg for giving me the idea! And we have to sign up SOON for casino night ;)

Welcome to the World!

Baby Matthew was born on Friday to my dear friend Tammy. Just thinking about it makes me weepy. That precious munchkin has the best mother in the entire world. He will never have crusts on his sandwiches. He will have arts and crafts and hugs and kisses.

And I can't wait to see him in person and hug him up.

In the meantime, I will do my best to spoil him from afar.

This is pure sweetness.