My "commute" to work is usually around thirty-five to forty-five minutes on the subway. We do own an ipod, but I find myself enjoying the quiet time reading(with the exception of the occasional crazy person). I just finished the 4th Harry Potter, which is about the size of a dictionary, so it took me a litttle longer than the novels I usually read. For the couple hundred people or so in the world who haven't read Harry Potter books... don't do it, it's a large commitment, and heavy books to carry around in my purse, ya know? No, really they are a lot of fun, and I recommend them to anyone.
The subway is an interesting place. Not for those (Howie Mandel) who are germ phobes. In the winter everyone is so bundled up that no one fits into the seats correctly, so you end up touching a lot of strangers. In the summer, you'll end up touching stranger as well, just the nature of a full car, some are, well, sweaty. If you plan to visit New York, travel on the weekends on the subway. There are loads of "free" entertainment if you don't have a dictionary sized book to carry around. Anyone from dancers, rappers, singers, bongo players, preachers, kids selling candy (not dealn' crack on the streets), and of course the homeless. Some homeless will try and tug your heartstrings, with sad stories of addiction, and just a string of bad luck. Some will try an appeal toward you humor, regular stand up homedians (yes, I obviously don't have their talent). There are also those few who play it to you straight, they need money for drugs, alcohol, or even bum a cigarette. And finally those who slowly stumble from car to car jingling a cup, that you wish they would have used to pee in rather than pee on themselves. I don't mean to sound harsh or jaded, but maybe New York can have that effect on you.... then again, maybe you have just had too many experiences where your charity when arye.
A couple of days before Christmas, Eric and I went downtown to do some last minute shopping. We were feeling exceptionally giving, so we would stop and give small donations here and there, ie salvation army bell ringers. While I was finishing up in one store, Eric went outside to wait for me. He was approached by a man who asked for any change, that he hadn't ate in a while and could really use anything . Eric, against his better jugdement gave the man a dollar, (McDonald's was right next door). The man came back to Eric a couple of minutes later and said" Man, can you believe this I almost won", he was holding up a scratch-it lottery ticket. "I just need one more eight and I'd have five hundred dollars!" I believe Eric couldn't recover fast enough to reply, before the "starving" man walked away. I realize that is one experience of prob. many, and that doesn't mean you shouldn't give, but here in the city, smarter is better, ya know?
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