Thursday, June 26, 2008

Oh My Gosh!

This post is a little out of chronological order, but I flew home tonight from Los Angeles and had a very interesting plane ride. I get on the plane and I had a window seat. This woman (about 50 years old) sits down and we have the following conversation:
Woman: I am a little nervous about flying and I have to go all the way to Chicago. I have not flown in 10 years and the last time I flew I had a panic attack so I associate that with a plane. The only part I am nervous about is taking off. Could I hold onto your arm while we take off?
Me (laughing, thinking that she is not really being serious): That's fine.
Ten minutes later...
Woman: I am really getting nervous. Could I hold your hand during the take off? You are really not nervous at all?
Me: If that would make you feel better then that is fine, and no, I am not nervous. Are you visiting friends or family in Chicago (trying to calm her down a bit)?
Woman: It is a long story.
Me: That is fine, you do not have to go into it.
I go back to my Sudoku game and she goes on to tell me the long story...
Woman: I was married a long time ago and I have two daughters who are grown. I got divorced and then got married again 6 years ago. Right before I got married my daughter got pregnant so I told my daughter that she could live with me after the baby was born. My fiancee did not want the daughter living with us, so we got married but never lived together. I would visit my husband on the weekends but I have never really been happy for the last 6 years. A couple of weeks ago I picked up some friends of friends at the airport and ended up hitting it off with one of them.
Me: So you are going to Chicago because to visit this hot guy you met a couple of weeks ago?
Woman: Actually, it is not a guy. It is a woman. I never thought I would do this but I have never had feelings for anyone like I do for her.
Me (stunned): Really? Interesting...
Woman: Yeah, it is all so new to me. I had to go to the bookstore last week to find a book on 'how to be a lesbian'. My friend pretty much looks like a guy anyway so it is not much different. It would help if she had a p---s, but we have such a good time together that I don't really care that much about the sex part.
Me: Oh...
I go back to my Sudoku game, not knowing what to say. At this point I am sitting there thinking, I just told a lesbian woman that she could hold my hand. Disguisting! Our flight was delayed for about an hour, and then we go out on the runway to depart.
Woman: Are you sure you are not nervous?
Me: No, not at all (while I am thinking, yes, I am very nervous with you sitting next to me).
The plane speeds up, and I continue with Sudoku. I wast not going to let that pen out of my hand because I was so not going to hold her hand. She grabs by arm and buries her head into my shoulder, and after about 30 seconds...
Woman: Are we off the ground?
Me: Yeah, everything is fine. We are in the air.
Woman: I don't want to let go of you until I can listen to my IPod.
Me: I am pretty sure you can listen to it now (knowing that it was definitely not time to turn on "approved electronic devices" but I just wanted to get her off of me).
Woman: Ok, that's good.
She turned on her IPod and all was well after that. I was so happy to get off of that plane!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I Heart NY!

About a month ago I had a training in Montvale, NJ, so of course I would not pass up tagging on a weekend to NYC. After my plane was delayed for a couple of hours, I arrive in the city at about 9pm on Friday night. The subway station by Jenn's has an elevator, bit it was broken so I had to do the stairs with all of my luggage. I started up the stairs and didn't get very far because this homeless guy saw me and offered to carry my luggage up the stairs for me. I thanked him and told him I did not have any cash on me but would be back shortly. I walked to Jenn's apartment, dropped off my stuff and Jenn and I walked back to the subway to give the guy some cash (I bummed a few dollars off Jenn). We then went to a Thai restaurant in the Village and then to see Baby Mama.

Saturday morning we slept in a little and left Jenn's apartment around 11am. We ended up being gone all day and got back a little after midnight. We stopped in Jenn's neighborhood for bagels at Murray's Bagels, went shopping in Soho, went to South Street Seaport to buy Broadway tickets, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, had lunch in DUMBO (Brooklyn), went to babycakes, went to Pinkberry (see previous posts), saw What Happens in Vegas and then went to The Hummus Place for dinner.

Ready to cross the bridge
It was a busy day
Brooklyn Bridge
babycakes - they had spelt cupcakes
We got caught in the rain on the way to dinner
On Sunday we slept in again, had breakfast in Jenn's neighborhood at Soy Luck Club and then went to see Mama Mia. That is the most fun Broadway Show I have seen. That would be one that I would definitely see again. After the show we got Pinkberry again and went to Whole Foods before the car picked me up to take me to Montvale.

Mamma Mia!
Just before we were arrested - JK :)
I am looking forward to going back in August for Jenn's 30th!