I love it here. So I may only get 2 hours of free Wi-Fi (I'm thinking that's how it goes...so I must type this up super quickly), but the people here are all young people studying for some sort of post-graduate test.
The other day I was sitting next to a guy studying for some tax test while I was studying for the GRE. Across from us was a table of an MCAT study group.
At one point, one of them said, "OK forget it, I'll just get this type of question wrong on the test."
"You can't do that," one of the others said. "It's computer adaptive!"
The five of them laughed heartily.
I chuckled to myself firstly because I thought they were a bunch of geeks, and secondly because I understood the joke, too.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Spit on 6
I sat next to this crazed woman on the 6 train this morning.
She was wearing pink and had a little tote bag. Her hair was a little messy but, hey, whose hair can really stand this humidity? Scattered across her lap was the morning Times. Right around 14th Street, she was crumbling and un-crumbling the Home & Garden section of the paper, I believe.
Suspiciously she sort of looked around and then impulsively tore off a corner of the paper and put it up to her mouth where she either spit on it or licked it. I thought she wanted to put her gum in it, but there was no gum in her mouth.
Then she folded the Home & Garden section and put it down next to her (next to me) and she got off at Astor Place where she took her entire paper, except for the spit section.
The lady who was standing in front of her asked, "excuse me, I think you left the rest of your paper."
But the crazed woman just shook her head and ran away and dashed through the turnstiles.
"Did you see what she did to that paper?!" The lady was clearly just as shocked as I was.
"Yeah..."
She shook her head solemnly and left at Bleecker Street.
She was wearing pink and had a little tote bag. Her hair was a little messy but, hey, whose hair can really stand this humidity? Scattered across her lap was the morning Times. Right around 14th Street, she was crumbling and un-crumbling the Home & Garden section of the paper, I believe.
Suspiciously she sort of looked around and then impulsively tore off a corner of the paper and put it up to her mouth where she either spit on it or licked it. I thought she wanted to put her gum in it, but there was no gum in her mouth.
Then she folded the Home & Garden section and put it down next to her (next to me) and she got off at Astor Place where she took her entire paper, except for the spit section.
The lady who was standing in front of her asked, "excuse me, I think you left the rest of your paper."
But the crazed woman just shook her head and ran away and dashed through the turnstiles.
"Did you see what she did to that paper?!" The lady was clearly just as shocked as I was.
"Yeah..."
She shook her head solemnly and left at Bleecker Street.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Je n'ai plus l'internet. Bof.
Today I struggled to find internet. First I went to Gregory's Café where it was a chilly 60 degrees, the coffee was gross, and the free internet was unstable, at best.
After 2 hours of freezing and just staring at an internet connection that would never fix itself, I left Gregory for the more admired Sunburst Espresso Bar. It was really crowded when I got here, but I found a seat and it cleared up quickly.
Stable internet, delicious coffee, a poorly-made carrot cake made my day. Spent the last 3+ hours here. I think it's time for me to move on since I won't be ordering anything more.
While I love this place, I don't think that this is very conducive for studying. Next time, Bobst! Ugh, Bobst. I hope they still let me in or else I'm screwed. No chance I'm living in the Kaplan center. (I'm not sure why I think living in Bobst is such a more attractive idea than the Kaplan center...)
After 2 hours of freezing and just staring at an internet connection that would never fix itself, I left Gregory for the more admired Sunburst Espresso Bar. It was really crowded when I got here, but I found a seat and it cleared up quickly.
Stable internet, delicious coffee, a poorly-made carrot cake made my day. Spent the last 3+ hours here. I think it's time for me to move on since I won't be ordering anything more.
While I love this place, I don't think that this is very conducive for studying. Next time, Bobst! Ugh, Bobst. I hope they still let me in or else I'm screwed. No chance I'm living in the Kaplan center. (I'm not sure why I think living in Bobst is such a more attractive idea than the Kaplan center...)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Unsuccessful
Today was an unsuccessful study day for me because around 3pm I found that I was already ready to go to sleep.
I'd like to attribute my tiredness to Harry Potter last night, but I can't blame Harry. No one can blame Harry.
On a more special note, I think that everyone should take a moment and suck in some beautiful artwork at the site Terrible Yellow Eyes, a blog that is dedicated to showcasing artwork in tribute to Maurice Sendak's masterpiece, Where The Wild Things Are.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Free Tennis Balls
On Saturday, Friend Bobby and I decided we wanted to go play tennis at Hudson River Park. We would meet there at 9:30 and play; however, our plans went awry.
8:00 AM a groggy Jessica wakes up and gets up.
8:45-ish AM a groggy Jessica goes to the L train to go to the 1 to get to the West Village
9:30 AM Jessica walks out of the Christopher Street station and by the time she walks to Greenwich Street, she realizes -- OH SNAP -- she forgot the tennis balls. To play tennis with. She's the one Friend Bobby left the tennis balls with.
9:45-ish AM Jessica finds a line to wait for the 3 tennis courts. She hangs out there, waiting for FB.
10:00 AM FB texts Jessica he's forgotten where the courts are.
10:20 AM Bobby arrives. He had walked up North rather than South. Loser.
10:40 AM We decide without tennis balls, we should hit up some free kayaking that was RIGHT THERE AT PIER 96! So we do. It was actually Jessica's idea to kayak.
11:00 AM In the Hudson kayaking between two piers.
11:30 AM Done kayaking and decide to give waiting for tennis courts another try. Meanwhile, Bobster went up to a friendly couple who had just finished their 1-hour court time to offer to pay for some tennis balls (you can tell that he really wanted to play tennis that day). The friendly people gave us two cans of new balls that he had used just for that day. We're dead serious.
11:50 AM we see this banner flying above our heads. One of those flying banners that says "Free Abortion Alternatives (718) 401-9700.
12:10 PM Jessica goes on a hike to buy lunch.
1:10 PM JESSICA AND BOBBY GET TO PLAY TENNIS!
2:10 PM We leave the courts.
Anyway, long story short, playing tennis in New York City is not impossible, but it's very possible if you decide you want to wait 2 hours.
Afterwards, I did go to the Frick with two other friends later in the day and the Museum of Sex, which was amazingly educational (I'm talking the MoSex, not the Frick. Sorry).
8:00 AM a groggy Jessica wakes up and gets up.
8:45-ish AM a groggy Jessica goes to the L train to go to the 1 to get to the West Village
9:30 AM Jessica walks out of the Christopher Street station and by the time she walks to Greenwich Street, she realizes -- OH SNAP -- she forgot the tennis balls. To play tennis with. She's the one Friend Bobby left the tennis balls with.
9:45-ish AM Jessica finds a line to wait for the 3 tennis courts. She hangs out there, waiting for FB.
10:00 AM FB texts Jessica he's forgotten where the courts are.
10:20 AM Bobby arrives. He had walked up North rather than South. Loser.
10:40 AM We decide without tennis balls, we should hit up some free kayaking that was RIGHT THERE AT PIER 96! So we do. It was actually Jessica's idea to kayak.
11:00 AM In the Hudson kayaking between two piers.
11:30 AM Done kayaking and decide to give waiting for tennis courts another try. Meanwhile, Bobster went up to a friendly couple who had just finished their 1-hour court time to offer to pay for some tennis balls (you can tell that he really wanted to play tennis that day). The friendly people gave us two cans of new balls that he had used just for that day. We're dead serious.
11:50 AM we see this banner flying above our heads. One of those flying banners that says "Free Abortion Alternatives (718) 401-9700.
12:10 PM Jessica goes on a hike to buy lunch.
1:10 PM JESSICA AND BOBBY GET TO PLAY TENNIS!
2:10 PM We leave the courts.
Anyway, long story short, playing tennis in New York City is not impossible, but it's very possible if you decide you want to wait 2 hours.
Afterwards, I did go to the Frick with two other friends later in the day and the Museum of Sex, which was amazingly educational (I'm talking the MoSex, not the Frick. Sorry).
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Long Night For a Subway
Taking the subway from the depths of Brooklyn back to Manhattan is not always fun because it usually takes a much, much longer time to get back to Manhattan late at night than it does to get to Brooklyn at a reasonable time. Why? Because this is the way the world works.
Tonight, however, two friends and I got a delightful dose of humor while still experiencing a "happy time." On the D train, the door conductor lady (yes, the lady who decides when to close/open the doors at each stop) was crazy.
Basically she opened and closed the door in all but 10 seconds. If you made it in: Congratulations. If you missed it and asked her to open the door for you, well, she'd say, "That's your fucking problem for not getting here on fucking time."
This happened three times on consecutive stops. A few people rushed to her and she closed the doors before they could enter, and she just told them no. Fuck no, to be more exact.
It was hilarious. In between stops she even came into our car to talk to everyone. Closing doors on people, she said, is the highlight of her day.
Tonight, however, two friends and I got a delightful dose of humor while still experiencing a "happy time." On the D train, the door conductor lady (yes, the lady who decides when to close/open the doors at each stop) was crazy.
Basically she opened and closed the door in all but 10 seconds. If you made it in: Congratulations. If you missed it and asked her to open the door for you, well, she'd say, "That's your fucking problem for not getting here on fucking time."
This happened three times on consecutive stops. A few people rushed to her and she closed the doors before they could enter, and she just told them no. Fuck no, to be more exact.
It was hilarious. In between stops she even came into our car to talk to everyone. Closing doors on people, she said, is the highlight of her day.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
4th of July
Wake me up before you go-go! Because I'm so ready for a firework display.
The making of a winning 4th of July = 1 friend + White Cheddar Popcorn + Mike's Hard Lemonade + Blanket + View of Hoboken/Hudson River + Concrete.
The making of a winning 4th of July = 1 friend + White Cheddar Popcorn + Mike's Hard Lemonade + Blanket + View of Hoboken/Hudson River + Concrete.
[I had wanted to put a picture up of me and friend, but decided not to--she likes her privacy]
Now round that off with a super advanced math course and a queasy feeling in my stomach from eating too much junk food I normally don't eat = Priceless (and sad).
Now round that off with a super advanced math course and a queasy feeling in my stomach from eating too much junk food I normally don't eat = Priceless (and sad).
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Day in Brooklyn
This weekend I had a wonderful time in Brooklyn, more specifically, in Forte Greene, Clinton Hill, and Park Slope.
Our first stop was the Forte Greene Brooklyn Flea Market. I thought it was going to be HUGE like les puces in Paris, but what I got was an assortment of stands in a school parking lot. Found these gems:
Then we proceeded to walk around and kill time before going to a BBQ. While walking we did find Waldo:
So, that wasn't too bad.
We also went to this French bakery called Choice. it's an amazing little place that's full of delicious treats I wanted so badly to eat, but I restrained myself. Kudos, me. However, last night I just saw Ted Allen talk about a great BLT at Choice -- so I have to go back for my love of Ted Allen and my love of BLTs.
So the BBQ -- that was tasty and fun. I was surrounded by people older than me, which is fine, but it meant I was holding a lot of conversation with my +1 and trying to hang out with the 21-month olds.
What we ate:
(no, we didn't eat the iPod.)
Afterwards we were graced by a beautiful rainbow on our way back to the C train to come back to Manhattan. Grrrr...Manhattan.
I'll forever remember this day as the day I flirted with Brooklyn and took the first step in falling in love.
Our first stop was the Forte Greene Brooklyn Flea Market. I thought it was going to be HUGE like les puces in Paris, but what I got was an assortment of stands in a school parking lot. Found these gems:
Then we proceeded to walk around and kill time before going to a BBQ. While walking we did find Waldo:
So, that wasn't too bad.We also went to this French bakery called Choice. it's an amazing little place that's full of delicious treats I wanted so badly to eat, but I restrained myself. Kudos, me. However, last night I just saw Ted Allen talk about a great BLT at Choice -- so I have to go back for my love of Ted Allen and my love of BLTs.
So the BBQ -- that was tasty and fun. I was surrounded by people older than me, which is fine, but it meant I was holding a lot of conversation with my +1 and trying to hang out with the 21-month olds.
What we ate:
(no, we didn't eat the iPod.)Afterwards we were graced by a beautiful rainbow on our way back to the C train to come back to Manhattan. Grrrr...Manhattan.
I'll forever remember this day as the day I flirted with Brooklyn and took the first step in falling in love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)