Blizzard.

I dont know the exact definition of a blizzard... but I think thats what we just had, dumping a foot or more of snow on the area in less than 6 hours.

Rich was surprised to hear me tell that this has been the first serious snowfall Ive experienced in over 10 years..

S'true. Florida doesnt get much snow. And we just got more in one day than New York has had annually in the last four years.

(I wasnt here for the Storm of the Century during the winter of 95-96.. when, according to local lore.. the drifts got up to 3 feet deep.)

Here is what I forgot about the experience:

No, not the blinding snow accumulating on every exposed part of clothing, the eerie quietness of fresh snow dampening sounds, the beautiful snow and wind sculptures on parked cars... no, no..

I forgot how much exertion and exercise it is to step OVER snow, never mind through it.

I wasnt about to slog through the un-shoveled sidewalks, so I walked in the street, in the tracks of cars and snow plows.

It still took me half an hour to get to the subway station, two city blocks away.
Where I still had to negotiate slippery steps hidden underneath inches of snow going down into the tunnels.

Oh yeah, the other thing I remember about deep snowfall...

Its only fun the first time it falls.
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I got a dozen bagels and a healthy portion of lox (Smoked Nova Salmon) to take home to Staten Island as I left Bay Ridge (Brooklyn) this morn.

The stuff is sublime.

I have become wary of claims proclaiming something as ".. the best in New York".

Usually doesnt live up to the hype.

(eg - Juniors Cheesecake in Brooklyn is NOT the best cheesecake in NY. Its actually quite shitty cheesecake. Do not waste your time.)

But the lox and bagels I got from this place (On 5th Ave and 76th in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn) is at least easily the best Ive had in Brooklyn.

Ironically, it was while I was in SF with JT that I got turned onto bagels and lox.
JT got homesick for a coupla things.. primarily good bagels and lox.

We hadda buy store bought bagels (Safeway and Sara Lee brands) as well as pre-packaged frozen lox.
They do try on the West Coast, but no.. this combo was only 'decent'.

But it was enough for me to like the taste.. and lox is indeed an acquired taste (it being fatty salmon after all), although not bad at all.

But this stuff is .. whoo.

The best *Ive* had in New York.

Now, if I can find New York pizza good enuff for me to forsake Chicago Deep Dish, or at least make me forget about it until I get back to Chi-town for a visit...

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After slogging through a SLOW ferry ride in a blinding snowstorm (visibility was down to less than 100 yards on the water, making for a slightly nervous ride), waiting over an hour for a bus to get through the storm and slippery streets and then slogging uphill to the house, then THROUGH fresh deep thigh-high powder to get to the door....

I had no intention of leaving the house until the streets are plowed and chaos has stopped snarfing on the finest meats and cheeses. (Mixed metaphor, but yoo know what I mean.)

It explains why I was not-so gently snoring on the couch when MJ called and left a message on the cell to give word that the get together while she is in town had been changed to another restaurant close by.

(Heh. Again I was surprised by an unexpected Cali accent.. I dont know why that makes me smile.. :-)

Umm. Lemme repeat.. I had no intention of leaving the house again for the day.
This wasnt happening.
It may be navigable in midtown Manhattan, but contrary to what Mayor Guiliani said.. things arent back to normal in the rest of the city yet.

Unfortunately, I had no call back number to get in touch with her.

Boohar.

Hopefully, we can do a cuppa coffee or Bailey's Irish before she leaves.
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Man, Ive taken a lot o' pictures today and these last few days (got some great shots of the storm and the snow-covered scenery).. but it'll be awhile before I can figure out a way to edit/downsize the pix so that I can include them in the blog.

This sux.

Its not really about computers. If I werent considerate of other folk's property or space - I would already have a solution rigged.

I realize now, that its been nearly six years since Ive had my own space, with no room-mates, family or coworkers around.

I had it for awhile in Jax, until my rogue ex-brother in law needed a place to stay. Hey, I couldnt refuse him, because he and my sister gave up their space when I needed it.

Since then, except for the period of a few blessed months, Ive not had a space I could truly call my own.

I am craving my own space. Mine. No one else around.

Granted, its pretty hard to do in New York - where space is at an expensive premium.. but right now, Im hoping that this will be accomplished by next month.

Which is why Im awful sensitive about impugning on other people's space.

Even if its only a computer.
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Miss Waterbelle- has had her sensibilities ruffled by my apparently inelegant choice of calling this a "NY blog".

This thing needs a better name. You had SF Scribble,NY Journal...NY Blog, though, no no no.

Pennant's Itinerant NY.

There you go.
*giggles* It rhymes and still reveals where you are, AND it
discusses your current state of moving. Yeah. There it is.

--Lissa

She does have a point there, I think.

And its usually something I take a bit of thought to do.

But try as I might - I cant think of anything better to call it.

Actually, following the lead of Miss Mars Bars, who has both a blog and a journal - Im gonna be integrating a blog into my site even after I get my fixed address.

This blog.

I'll still have the journal, but Ive been seduced by the short, pithy, updateable format of the Blog.

So, I called it exactly what it is.

*shrug of shoulders and upturned hands* I mean, what else could I call it?
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