I woke just a couple minutes ahead of 430am, my self-assigned wake time. Ideally, I would’ve slept more soundly, but who controls that? I wish I did. Despite my body craving more sleep, I pulled myself from bed and made my way to the adjoining bathroom to start my day. I brushed my teeth and doused my eyes with drops.
I slipped into my running shoes then tucked my toes under the lip of the bed and whipped out 55 sit-ups and then 55 push-ups. I had only water available to drink – no coffee and no juice.
By 5am I was on my way to the fitness center to do the first treadmill run since my last trip to NYC way back in ‘99 or ’00. I was hopeful that at least one treadmill would still be available. Turns out, only one other was in use. I hopped aboard figuring out its operation on the fly. I started off slow just to get my blood flowing. I ran the first ¾ miles at a jog while I got used to the treadmills operation and features. Had no idea they have TVs built into the treadmill’s screen. They also have music as well as an iPod USB interface. Holy smoke! I used the TV, but having not brought any headphones., I couldn’t listen to the audio.
I kept upping my speed until I was running at 6.8 miles per hour or my usual 8’ 40” miles. I ran 5K or 3.2 miles in 30 minutes. I didn’t feel comfortable going longer. I was surprised at how quickly the time went, but also missed running outside. There wasn’t any way I wanted to run the streets of midtown Manhattan , let alone Central Park , in the dark.
The workout was a good one. Felt terrific. Back to the room I quickly got a shower. Found a few quirks in the bathrooms design. For one, only one of the shower’s glass doors slides. The one closest to the wall is fixed, meaning that one has to get in to turn on the shower. Guess what? You get wet.
The other is the ledge above the sink impedes on the space over the sink. Otherwise, the place looks exceptional with the neo modern design. I was showered dressed and ready to head out by 6am. I wore jeans and a black t-shirt. I checked and double checked to make sure I had everything I’d need. Yep, off I went.
I passed on the breakfast café at the hotel after reading the menu from the room. A pot of coffee was something like $12. I later learned that was for room service. I figured I’d get something once down by the office or the WTC. Off to the subway.
I passed the thru the turnstile gate but then thought better of taking Tina’s word alone. I asked one of NYC’s finest standing nearby how to get to the WTC. He told me the same as Tina – number 4 or 5 train. OK. I followed the confusing signage to the 4 train holding out hope I was going the right way. One quickly realizes that there are several off shoots –gates – to choose from.
First stop was 14th St, then Brooklyn Bridge . I knew I was going the right way. My stop was next – Fulton St. Just like getting on, there isn’t clear signage pointing to the right exit to the street. I followed the masses and ended up on Church St, I think. But I was quickly able to identify with the landmarks, including Freedom Tower (the new WTC 1) building going up). Awesome! I felt goose bumps as I approached the quarantined WTC area. Construction blockades up all the way around it. Unfortunately, my destination was directly behind the WTC on West St. How to get over there efficiently was anybody’s guess. I had the option of going north or south around the barricades. I chose south, which was the long (wrong) way. The barricade forced me all the way to Battery park looking out over the river and out at the Statue of Liberty already gleaming in the gorgeous summer sunshine. That was sweet!
Quickly, I began to soak my black t-shirt with sweat. Nervous about getting to my destination, I decided to put my desire for coffee and food on the back burner. I simply wanted to get to my destination. I ended up having to cut through the World Financial Center maze of buildings eventually asking for help from their security guards. Typical New Yorker. Wouldn’t give me a straight answer. Enjoyed the fact that I was lost. I played along realizing I needed him more than he needed me. His directions were too fast for me to comprehend. I made do and used my internal GPS.
I ended up going along the west river marina and finally around a park and running trail. I could see the building I needed to get to but was still unsure. I eventually found my way. Making things even more tense were the raucous and rowdy strikers directly out front screaming at folks like me. I made little if nay eye contact and headed on inside. What a relief. I remembered needing to be on the 13th floor. I rode the elevator up with any immediate recall of my temp supervisor’s name. As soon as I exited the elevator, someone asked me who I needed to see. While searching my Droid for the email, I uttered Shelly. Someone walked up and said likely Sheri, follow me. Yep, that was right.
I arrived at my destination at 657am – a whole 3 minutes early. J I wanted nothing more than some coffee and something substantial to eat. There was nothing. I was hoping after checking in I could run out, but no one else made any such gesture, though several were in the same shoes as I – without breakfast and coffee thus far.
After about an hour of intros we met the department director who promised some sort of breakfast and lunch moving forward. Wasn’t clear about that day, however. Around 1030-11am coffee and donuts were brought in. I practically knocked others over to get to it.
Rarely has coffee ever tasted so good. I ate a chocolate frosted donut too, and later had some donut holes. By the way, they were from Dunkin’ Donuts. Spent a lot of time getting acclimated to systems and tools. Before we knew it, we were called to catered lunch – wraps, chips and soda. The wraps were exceptional I wasn’t even sure what was on the two I snatched up. I grabbed what I thought was a can of rootbeer but ended up being cream soda. Yuck! Hate that stuff.
Went back and snagged a can of Sprite Zero. Much better. Spent the afternoon in training getting a feel for the job at hand. Let’s just say that the experience was eye opening. Trained until 650pm when we headed back to our cubes and packed up for the day. I was tired and looking forward to getting back to my hotel and then getting some dinner. I was getting hungry again.
Several others were at my hotel but were cabbing it, afraid to subway. They quizzed me about it and said maybe tomorrow. Others were staying down in the financial district complained of nowhere to go after the business day. In fact, one of them said she was moving her hotel to ours. Liked the idea of being in midtown – shops, restaurants, etc.
I found my way to the subway easy enough, and certainly quicker than my way in that morning. Problem was, the signage was tricky – which train to take – uptown, downtown, both said train 4 and 5. As I stood on one side I got the feeling I needed to be on the other so I darted down the stairs, under the tunnel and over to the other side. While waiting on the train I asked a smart looking fellow. He said I needed to be where I was originally to head to midtown. Agh! I hurried back the way I came. I was in just as much of swat as I was earlier that morning.
The train was packed full, but I was immediately comfortable that I was on the right stopping first at Brooklyn Bridge and then 14st and finally Grand Central Station, or 42nd St. But believe it or not, the crazy wasn’t yet over. Like I shared earlier, getting off at the right station is one thing, finding the exit from the maze of off shoots and tunnels is something else. I walked back and forth, I am sure looking like a lost idiot to some. Finally, I found my way out to 42nd St just down the street from my hotel. Could see it within eye shot. I was discouraged that I couldn’t easily find the way I came on that morning without even going outside.
Instead of walking along the street which was bustling, I darted into Grand Central Station at first opportunity. That proved ridiculous too. Got turned around in there as well. What a butt head I was. Ended up on Park Avenue . Geesh! Back tracked to the hotel’s entrance.
I was never happier to be home. I hustled off to the room anxious to dump my gear, freshen up, call home, and then head out for more food and provisions. I was once again a sweaty mess – my once tight black t-shirt hanging off me loose and damp.
It was quickly approaching 8pm. Where had my day gone? I took a minute to regroup then phoned Mindy. We talked about my day first, me sharing my harrowing experiences on the subway system and then having difficulty finding my way to the office building. Oh boy! She in turn shared how her day at the zoo went off with the three of the four grand kids, our kids, and Lindsey. Sounds like a poke-a-stick-in-the-eye kind of experience.
Mindy expressed missing me. I missed her and the kids too, but was overwhelmed with the entire experience at hand as well. Understatement, I know - Columbus is not Manhattan . J We chatted for about five minutes before I begged off to get dinner (NYC pizza). Promised to call back just after 9pm to so I could chat with Bella.
Headed out and down to the 2nd pizza shop that one passes along 42nd st walking west. Found it the night before. They’re pizza looked awesome. There I bought two extra-large slices of Sicilian style cheese pizza. After picking up some pizza I stopped at the carry-out a few store fronts down to get some Gatorade and snacks. I really intended on picking something up that could serve as breakfast too, but instead got only snacks – pita chips and jerky. Back to the room. I hurried along, now ready to eat the box the pizza came served in.
Not in my room five minutes, I was changed into my flannel shorts and eating my pizza rinsing it down with red Gatorade. AHHHH! I ate fast. Still hungry after woofing down the pizza, I ate some pita chips and jerky. Called Mindy and Bella. Talked with Bella right away. She was juiced and just finished with gymnastics. Said she bit her tongue. Very chatty. Said she was exhausted too. I talked with them until they were home and Bella handed the phone to Jacob. We chatted briefly, him sharing how crazy their zoo day was. Mindy sounded somewhat sad, perhaps overwhelmed. She asked if she could call back before she heads to sleep. Of course.
It was approaching 930pm. I did a little reading then headed to bed with the TV on and tuned to the Discovery Channel. I watched passively for about 5-10 minutes but soon drifted off to sleep. I was dog tired. I think Mindy called around 10-1030pm. I was out of it. We chatted for just a minute. I begged off to sleep for what I hoped was the best sleep since last Thursday. Good night NYC!
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