From the Pit of Hell

This summer might be the hottest I can remember in the great city of New York.

I am thankful this morning that despite missing my subway there was one just a minute behind it.

If you don't know what it's like to stand on a subway platform in the summer, let me tell you a little bit about it:

Today, specifically, walking out the door felt like stepping into a pre-heating oven, thereabouts 125 humid-degrees.

As you approach your subway station, you realize you've been moseying and pick up the pace only to find the dreaded "yep, you've missed the train" crowd pouring out of the subway in the opposite direction you're going. As you take the steps further into Dante's lair, you pray to any God that can hear you, that a) the train is being held in the station and you can still get on it or b) the countdown clock might say the next one is just 2 minutes away.

In my case this morning, I heard my fate-to-wait when the train announced "stand clear of the closing doors" right before I hit the last step into the station. I glanced up at the countdown clock, lit up in green digitized words and numbers, first I see a glowing "6 min" and think "please, no" and then flashes "1. Brooklyn Bridge 2 Min"  I wipe the sweat from my brow (just figuratively because there's no use in doing that as I will just continue to drip sweat anyway), swipe my Metro Card and walk briskly to my spot on the platform. The oncoming train's lights illuminate the tunnel sooner than expected and I am thankful for a seat in an air conditioned car. And now, I'm writing this.

LET US DISCUSS SHOULD I HAVE LEFT A MOMENT LATER WHAT MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE:
Stepping down into the subway on any hot day, no matter the temperature, and having to wait more than two minutes for a train feels like I'm Gretel in the witch's oven, pre-heat buzzer beeping at 500 degrees. Bitch is baking some quick cookies that are about to burn. And I don't mean I'll get out of here lightly browned and ready to eat. Imma be a smelly, sweat dripping mess who just took a shower but needs another and prays she remembered to put deodorant on.

With that said, my train stop is next. Come visit New York. In the fall, winter or spring.

Everything’s As If We Never Said Goodbye

:::turns on lights:::



:::pulls sheet off desk and typewriter:::



:::dust goes flying:::



Well. Looks like I've got a little cleaning up to do in here and I left my Swiffer at home today.

I'm trying to remember why I stopped coming here. Why I stopped sharing my experiences in almost-real-time. But, no use in that now, I'll just have to catch you up along the way.



I've bored myself in the last few paragraphs, or maybe it's just the subway train rocking me back to sleep before I have to be wide eyed and bushy tailed for a summer Monday, unsure. But it's also frigid AF on this train, even with my denim jacket on.



So anyway, so many times I've wanted to share thoughts and feelings since my last post in 2012, but I wasn't sure of my blog username and password or if this place still existed (Did google delete me? Did blogspot go kablooey? For anyone who remembers GEOCITIES web hosting circa the 90's, you know my concerns are real) or even how to find it again. BUT a little push from my wife and friends, a little time on a Sunday afternoon, and here I am again!



Six whirlwind years have gone by. There have been ups and downs both on the scale and in life overall and I'm feeling like I'm on an upswing again due to the fact that I'm pushing towards a goal/dream these days - more on that later.



I'm back and (maybe) better than ever - you decide! But all that matters is I'm back!



P.S. This blog title is an homage to a song from the musical Sunset Boulevard. Video below if you have an attention span to listen or watch Glenn Close and all her Norma Desmond deranged glory.