Magic New York

[ellenkushner]

For the past two weeks I've been grousing about how much easier life is wherever we are (coastal Maine, various small towns in New England, and of course - briefly - our old neighborhood in Boston). Delia tells me that New York knows I'm mad at it, and is doing the Dance of the Seven Veils to recapture my love. Got back to Riverside about 8 p.m., and after the herculean task of unloading the SUV (yes, remember the SUV? well, it demonstrates the Kushner/Sherman rule: Purchases will expand to fill the space allotted. 2 antique lamps [from Maine], 3 cases of tax-free wine [from NH], several Trader Joe's bags and I hate to say what all else . . . .), I went to return the car to Avis on 83rd Street. Whereupon:

YANKEES FAN?

The rental lady gave me 2 tix to tomorrow night's game (marked: Yankee Stadium, 1923 - 2008, The Final Season - yikes!) for being one of the first 100 customers in their new location - and for taking the time to chat her up - I didn't notice her offering tickets to anyone in the line before me! I immediately called my beloved Uncle Ron, but if he's not available, I'll have to find someone else. It must, however, be someone who understands baseball, and doesn't mind explaining play-by-play. (How I wish Caroline were here!! It's the Twins, even.)


SPINNING

I walked back along Amsterdam Avenue, stopping at Ali Baba for some transcendent Yemenite takeout. The young man behind the counter looked like an illustration from my Arabian Nights: narrow face, black locks, arched nose, thick lashes and smoky eyes that I would swear were ringed with kohl if I didn't know better . . . . lucky for him the counter was too tall to leap over. He did make me a splendid sandwich, and I will have to be content with that. At the corner of Amst/96th Street, a woman stood spinning in an ecstatic circle, waving a scarf. I gave her a wide berth, but still heard her stop and announce joyously: "Now I'm good and hot. Now I'm good. And. Hot. (beat) Now, how did I get hot? By turning myself around!" Eager to be home, that was all I got. Because, friends, it is good and hot enough here already. Trust me.


HOT TAR

And even hotter than that: they were laying down tar on Broadway when I came to my cross-street; laying it down and rolling over it with one of those roller trucks. The truck had just rolled it, and there were no barriers, so I was going to walk across it, when I felt the heat blaring up off it. A desert one definitely did not want to risk one's sandals on, even at 9:30 at night. So I crossed to the other side and took the road less . . . well, less like Lawrence of Arabia.

And now I am drinking grapefruit juice and thinking how nice a tepid scented bath will be.

Comments

[1crowdedhour.livejournal.com]

:kicks crappy teleportation device I got from Craigslist:

(How I wish Caroline were here!! It's the Twins, even.)
How I wish I were there too!

I don't suppose Isabel is in town? She understands baseball and could explain things to you in ways I never could.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Mindreader! I wrote her, but they're hardly ever here these days. Fingers crossed, though. I know Stephen is eloquent; couldn't remember if she shared his passion.

Miss you.

[ophanim.livejournal.com]

What is it about Yemeni men? I'm reading Gay Travels in the Muslim World (ed. Michael Luongo) and whenever they're mentioned, the Yemenis get top marks for beauty.

As for the counter, ahhh...but could you duck under?

[nohwhere-man.livejournal.com]

Purchases will expand to fill the space allotted.
I've always said "Junk expands to fill the available space.". For some reason, this keeps happening to me.

As for the Yemeni, you could send him over here, but I expect the postage would probably be rather steep.

[intelligentrix.livejournal.com]

Oh, how I wish I could go to that game with you. I could explain baseball, and I even have a Homer Hanky from the world series the Twins won in '91 (I got to go to a game).

[beth-bernobich.livejournal.com]

I could lend you my son for the baseball game. He's a Yankees fan and good at explaining things. *g*

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Oh hello! I am Becca, from Readercon!

[handworn.livejournal.com]

I'm awfully sorry I, or even better, my wife, can't go with you. My wife better because she's originally from Minnesota. ;-)

Wow, it's not often that cities get anthropomorphized. Sometimes, true, and sometimes well, but not very often.

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

Oh seduct-y New York with its Yemeni men and its baseball! Clearly trying to win you back. :D

[galdrin.livejournal.com]

I'll go with you, and I know baseball!

Play(ed), coached, managed, umpired, spectated, and - oh wait, I'm in Texas! Damn !!!

Congratulations on acquiring a pair of tickets to pay a final visit to the "The House That Ruth Built". That's like ... the American equivalent of the Roman Colosseum ... if you don't count Fenway, of course.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Your words are true. I wish you could have perfected that teleportation machine in time to join me here!

[galdrin.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm still tinkering with it.

You wouldn't believe how em-bare-assing it is when you show up one place and your clothes end up somewhere else - humbling, too.

Keep smilin' !!!

Yankees Tickets

[zarhooie.livejournal.com]

I suppose if you're looking for someone that you might not know well (or at all) you could drop a line to kradical. He's a big Yankees fan, he's a friend of mine and he's a damnfine writer. You'd probably get along well.

Re: Yankees Tickets

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Ooh! I know him! I just emailed him (and just heard back - he's busy. How can you be too busy for free Yankees tix???)

Re: Yankees Tickets

[zarhooie.livejournal.com]

He's a punk. Never you fear, I'll beat him up for you when I see him at Pi-Con.

Do you know blergeatkitty? She might be a good person to go with, although I don't know if she knows any more about baseball than you do.

If I leave right this very minute, I could probably get to NYC in time... No. That is a plan where I lose my hat. Darn. :(

Re: Yankees Tickets

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Wow - from her LJ, looks like I'd like her a lot (unless I do actually know her and just don't recognize the moniker....) - ask her to (re)introduce herself at the next KGB, or something!

Keep your hat, though! And have fun at Pi-Con - hope I'll make it someday.

Re: Yankees Tickets

[zarhooie.livejournal.com]

You should seriously consider it for next year. We're going to be coming to NYC to pick up one of our GoH's, so it's not like you're in Montana or something. I figure if Jaqueline Cary can grace us with her presence, you're just a bit further of a stretch. <3

Re: Yankees Tickets

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, well, I believe Carey was a formally invited GoH whose way was paid? Trust me, that can help a girl make up her mind mighty fast!

Ahem.

But, really, Springfield is close and we'd love to come - it's just that we've traveled so much the past 18 months that another weekend away from home is not nearly as enticing as it would normally be. Maybe next year, though. It does sound pretty scrumptious.

Re: Yankees Tickets

[zarhooie.livejournal.com]

It's a fun con. :)

We don't have our GoH picked out for next year... yet. Hmm... No promises, of course, but I will put your name into the hat.

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

I like Alibaba too. Except that the service usually takes forever. And the cramped space while you're waiting for take out. But the food is good.