NYC baby...

Back in The City for a few days, and thought I'd capture some early thoughts "on tape:"

It's not that cold.  Gimme a break folks.

Flight was delayed, as is the norm for LaGuardia.  It seems that if you miss your brief window into this airport, you'll certainly be screwed circling until another window opens up.  So, for example, a 30 minute delay on the ground in Miami (PA system was not working on the plane) means about an hour in "real terms" since you have to be exactly on time to make your LGA window...

Loved the adrenaline rush from the cab ride into Manhattan.  Couple things of note...1) Had to check the mirror a view times to see if our cabbie was awake as he sped along, 2) It was all good, he was awake, and pretty damn alert considering some of our maneuvers, 3) Never had to tell the guy to take the service road to avoid traffic/construction, i.e. he thought independently, 4) Had to look over the guy's shoulder a few times to see how fast he was going...it's actually amazing how 60mph in a beat up cab feels like 95mph in a smooth ride...

Great conversation with the cabbie as I saw him drive past 59th street (our turn)...for purposes of this interaction, think back to the great scene in Sixteen Candles when Jake is talking to Long Duc Dong ("she get married"..."married?"..."ya, married"..."married?!"..."married! jeesh..."):

Ben:  Ummm, so where are you planning to cut across?
Guy:  57th...you want 57th and 8th, right?
Ben: No, 58th and 7th...
Guy:  Oh, 57th and 8th...
Ben:  Nooo, 58th and 7th...
Guy:  Ok
Ben:  Actually, since we are on 57th now, just drop us at 57th and 7th...
Guy: Wait, you said 57th and 8th, no?
Ben:  FIFTY-EIGHTH and SEVENTH!

First sign we were back in the city... getting out of the cab, as a homeless guy stumbles by, the driver helps with the luggage and almost sets my bag right on top of a huge nasty & fresh pile of vomit on the curb.  Nice!

Walked to work this morning - great 15 minute stroll down 6th avenue from the NYAC to 48th and 5th.  It was not "early" (7:45am) but the city felt...empty.  Weird.  Or was it just me?  No idea...  But I loved the feel of the city, and the crispness of the air - just enough to make you eyes sting a little when the wind blows and it leaves your cheeks flush... one of the electronic temp & time signs said 46 degrees... felt warmer though...

Is the city different?  Eh... a little quieter, as I said, and some different store fronts... Magnolia Bakery has now clearly jumped the shark with a 50th and 6th location.  Brooks Brothers is now also at 50th and 6th on the south side of the street... Turned the corner onto 48th to see them filming Law & Order or some such show - that was a familiar sight from my time in NYC...

Stopped into Lenny's for breakfast/coffee - right on 48th street - and was simply amazed at the talent level of the workers there... A small asian woman - Caroline - stood at a register well in the back of the store.  The front part is all tables, so the register is a good 40 feet from the front door.  The second that someone breached the threshold of the front door, even as she was filing a prior order, Caroline would yell that new person's order - from memory - over her shoulder to the dude manning the coffee station behind her.  Sometimes the guy behind would challenge her memory, but she was spot on each time:  "Good morning sir, medium coffee, 2 creams, no sugar?  Hello ma'am, large coffee, sugar, no milk?" and so on...  The level of recall and detail was amazing.  For one woman she called back, "ice coffee, 3 equals - not sweet 'n low - equal, lotta milk."  Whhhaaat?  Unreal.  I can't even describe how "homesick" for New York this made me feel.  How does she remember this stuff?  I walked away very, very impressed, and left a nice tip.  I wonder if she's just a "Rain Man," and she'll remember my order tomorrow, or if it takes her a few days... Either way, it was such a welcome feeling to be in that "NY-deli-hustle-sharp thinking-vibe."  As I have said many times, if you spend $9.07 at a deli in Miami, and give the cashier $10.07, more often than not, they have no idea why... It's just depressing.  But for now, thanks Caroline.  You made my day thus far...it's good to be back...