amalthya

It never leaves you, that tough-as-nails New York spirit. It will make you walk across the street regardless of oncoming traffic. And last night, in the bitter, bitter cold, it got me, stephantravels and clucas6416 a taxicab uptown.

I'm not really sure what was going on in the city last night, but usually, at midnight on a Thursday, there is NO problem getting a cab. Last night though -- we stood there for probably 20 minutes without so much as an off-duty guy going by. Every cab was full.

It was clearly a conspiracy.

Frustrated and cold, I saw, across 3rd avenue, that there was a cab coming downtown. The lights on 3rd, however, were green and no one seemed to care that there was a very cold, coatless girl desperate to cross the street.

Bucking conventions like waiting for the light, I dashed across the street, dodging cabbies and semis as Stephan and Charlie looked on in horror. The cabbie saw me, and seemed to acknowledge my coldness need, and drove up to find a place to stop.

To my horror, some evil yuppies approached my cab and I yelled into the street, "You've got to be fucking KIDDING me!" But as I look on, I notice that the yuppies haven't gotten INTO the cab. Because the doors are locked.

The cabbie is locking them out of the cab.

In a rush of glee, I ran across 12th street and approached the cab. When he saw me at the door, he unlocked it and I got in. The yuppies, their faces enraged in burberry colors, said "Have you been waiting?! We were waiting for this cab!"

To which I said, "You're damned right, and I'm COLD!" and slammed the door in their plaid faces.

Once inside, I thanked the cabbie profusely [with some money] and we hooked a U-y to collect Stephan and Charlie.

Something about getting home last night just felt that much more empowering.

Also, I'd imagine when I get a coat I won't be quite as brassy ;)

Sunday 7:03 am

It's a fine day, Sunday. And that's not because there's no post on Sunday, but it's because there're no drums on Sunday.

In a way I'm lucky that it's a church next door and not a mosque -- mosques begin their morning services at 4:30 am instead of 5:30 am.

Last night, as per usual, we had a power outtage and even though it was 8 pm and I usually retreat into my room, I went out onto the "porch" and just sat in the absolute, total darkness. The low rumble of the generator for the huge antenna tower next door hummed into the night, but other than that, it was just complete dark.

I'd brought my little Energizer lantern but decided to turn it off. It was also attracting bugs.

And, on the cold cement of the porch, I just stretch and breathed in the cold mountain air. I don't usually notice all of the sounds of the night, but I was hyper-aware since I could barely see 2 feet in front of me. If I squinted, I could make out the silhouettes of the trees, dark against the sky. The sky seemed enormous, too.

I couldn't see the road, or the rocks, and the wall of the compound blocked most of the headlights from the passing cars, and I sort of felt like I was in the middle of the wilderness..

... with a generator, of course. I felt so free, and the cold air made my skin all tingly, and really, it was sort of incredible.

When the power came back on as I sat outside, it was almost disappointing. I got out of my funny Pilates posture and greeted Faustin and Mwacca, the guard. Their radio came back on, and suddenly the night air was cluttered with static and singing.

People cheered in a nearby bar and the night was alive with city noise again.

And I went back inside, into my room and to my computer.