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The day starts with some broken sleep at about 7:15ish, reading emails and news. I then throw on some clothes and head down to do laundry as Susie has some items she needs to be washed.

I also write the previous day’s blog. I always open the window and hear the church strike at 9AM.

That takes the whole morning, and I am headed out from the apartment about 10ish to get to the hospital via the one train. Again, the apartment’s internet is now dead. I am using a hot-spot via my phone, 5G, to do my writing and surfing.

At the hospital, the process is familiar, and the staff asks me about Susie and our stay. Not many people do a daily visit for a month.

When I get to the room, Susie is still in bed and not dressed. She is having therapy in the afternoons. I think they finally figured out that Susie is not a morning person.

Lunch appears, and it is a Thanksgiving feast of turkey breast, mash potatoes, and stuffing. Susie is delighted.

I brought Susie a coaster from Death and Company.

I head out to have lunch at the baguette place and have chicken soup (excellent) and a croissant which was glazed with sugar (yuk!).

Susie is still hours away from her first appointment, so I get tickets to the Museum of Modern Art and do a long walk despite the pain of one blister. I wanted to see this part of NYC, and so I walked.

I found a few icons, including the CBS TV theater.

I also found this Harry Potter-like location in NYC.

There was a group of chefs giving away carrot cake samples. I got Susie a piece and carried it to MoMA and back.

I was disappointed by MoMA as they had closed part of the 5th floor to make changes, including some of the best of their collection. I could only see a bit of Stary Stary Night from a doorway. The proctor borrowed my camera and took pics for me of the wonderful stuff I could not see. I was disappointed and sad that MoMA had locked away some of its best and iconic art the day I came to see it.

The closest I got was my phone taking a pic.

I went down and buried my sadness in yet-another-carrot-cake in the cafe and decided I was still a bit unhappy and posted a sad text on Facebook (mostly for the museum to see). It was still a nice visit, and I had only a few hours anyway.

I walked back and took the subway back to Columbus Circle. Again, I found a close link after I walked to the museum. But I wanted to walk a bit.

I returned to Susie, and she was partially dressed. I had more laundry to do.

I stayed with Susie for the afternoon and early evening. At one point, she did not call the nurse and got up and started walking from the bathroom to the sink and then sat herself down in a chair. I stepped in to walk next to her so I could help if she needed help. As usual, she was not inside her walker, and I nagged her about that (just like the PT folks), but she did fine. I think she is tired of all of this. Which is a good sign.

At 7ish, I said good night to Susie and headed to Hell’s Kitchen (extremely gentrified) for dinner with Kat. We split the check at a hole-in-the-wall Thai and noodle place just a short distance from the Kat Lair. The food was good, and my pad-Thai had many shrimps.

I also, and not a good Magician thing, did the same trick again. I had Kat remember all the words (prompting her) so that she did the illusion while I did the card movements. I have to admit I got lucky, and everything went off with Kat doing most of the work. It is a nice illusion that I picked up in NYC.

After that, slightly limping from my blisters, I rode the 1 train back to the apartment. I tried to fix the Internet here, a lost cause, and then slept the night through and woke up a bit late at 7:45.

 

 

Working backward, last night ended early at the apartment. I had taken two trains to get back from the Lower East Side or East Village. I walked a long tunnel between the F and 1 train line. It just went on and on. I, having had a few drinks, thought at the time that the subway systems work better when you are a bit tipsy.

Please note, only about one of twenty people on the subway are not wearing masks, and when it is not busy, everyone keeps following social distancing.

I walked from the bar Death and Company in a quiet street. It was about five blocks, and I was retracing my steps to get there. This time I picked the closest entrance to the F train. It was a cool, dry evening (after all the rain), and the mostly young but not wealthy folks were out having pizza or other foods.

Death and Company is a dark bar that makes and is famous for inventing cocktails. I have given their book, about an inch thick with plenty of color pictures, for Christmas presents. I asked the bartender to make me something, and he produced a rootbeer float-like bourbon drink after a few questions. I watched him make it, and it has many layers and steps!

Note: All my drinks were not on the menu–I have read about them in their book. I suggest when you visit that you sit at the bar and discuss with the bartender a drink. Don’t order from the menu. In my case, the bartender was a young man who had been working for Death and Company for ten years and for six months in NYC (he NYC born and was happy to be back). He could make anything so I got the more exotic drinks.

I asked him what to eat, “definitely the fried chicken,” was his answer. It came on metal skewers steaming hot. It was just a little spiced, and there was a dipping sauce to have more sweetness and heat. Wonderful.

I was seated first as I was first in line. I had a seat at the bar on a stool. An Indian couple was sitting next to me, and I had to get all my bags and hat moved to my hooks under the bar to make room for them. I sat on my coat. They were on a date and ignored me.

A bit later, a German named Christof sat next to me, and we chatted over drinks. He was new to the USA and had come in as part of the German government presence in the USA (the only way for a German to get in, he said). He flew in just a day or so again, dropped off his luggage, and popped on a train to NYC.

We talked about his new life in Washington DC, he is from Berlin, and how I think he will love the important but tiny city. I gave him a few suggestions. He comes from a capital city and is excited to live in the USA capital.

Like me, he had read about Death and Company and had to stop by. He loved his drink. I was on my second now–a smoky and exotic cocktail that tasted at first like wall cleaner, but soon I could taste the smoke and coffee. The drink made me think of the 1920s and the smoke and coffee in a bar like this. Sam Spade in a glass?

I left the bar after two heavy cocktails feeling quite happy and still able to find my way back. Christof was ordering food as I went, and I gave him my blog site (here: alohawild.me).

Going further back on Wednesday, I was too early somehow for Death and Company and waited for 45 minutes. The gal in charge of the seating came out, and we chatted while she cleaned up the area and got ready for the evening. A loud group of medical interns showed up, stepped in front of me. The hostess made a point of seating me before the crowd.

I managed before this the trains and walking to get there. I left Susie a bit early, 4ish, to manage the trip and be just a bit early (my plan worked too well). On the way there, I used different trains, B, as I was still unsure of the process and the transfer tunnel being sober at the time.

At the hospital earlier that day, Susie had a good day and dressed in the clean clothing I brought her. I did laundry again Wednesday morning. She had two long appointments with PT and OT, and they were pleased with the changes and now pressing to improve. Susie needs to lift her feet higher. The journalling is also ongoing, and she is getting homework too.

I am going to bring some clean clothes again (Thursday) and her Bob Dylan t-shirt. I also chatted with the OT folks, and I will bring some of Susie’s pads and so on. We use these at home, and it is time to get more like home. 5Nov2021 is not that far away! I started to look at air flights back to Oregon!

I started tired for the day, and it was hard going all day. I nodded off a few times when things were quiet in Susie’s room. Being so tired, I almost gave up going to Death and Company but decided I needed to break up the day with something different.

Thanks again for reading.

The morning started with coffee, instant, and then throwing on clothes and doing the laundry. I also had to pick up my script, so that meant a different route today.

It is also blowing a gale in NYC, so my heavy coat and hat for today. No hats and raincoats in NYC. Just umbrellas and mostly wool coats, which turn into wet blankets. Everyone is looking a bit unhappy. But, being from Oregon, this is relatively light rain, and the wind is not too bad (not blowing any windows out).

I also wrote the blog with a very poor Internet connection (which continues into today). It takes a long time to write this when the connection is slow.

Finally, after laundry and the usual morning tasks, I head out for the 1/2 mile walk to the RiteAid. The wind is low and the rain more a misting. I get my prescription without issue and then walk another three blocks to the 96th street station, oddly on 95th street.

I reach Susie at the hospital without issues. No flooding other than puddles to be stepped over.

I brought clean clothing and picked out something for Susie to wear. Her first PT was at 11:30, which consisted of getting dressed and then sitting and standing a few times. Lunch then came, which Susie handled mostly herself (I only offer help for hard-to-open items). Next, more PT and I headed out after getting a nice pic.

I headed to the Museum of Modern Design (MAD). This is off of Columbus Circle and was closed yesterday. Today it was $18, and you start on the 5th floor and explore the gallery going down using the stairs between the floors. The strangely open spaces with just a few pieces are always startling after so many close-corners of NYC.

Susie had flowers delivered from her sister’s family. I called the florist, and they told me they had delivered them. I walked down to security in the lobby, and they had just changed shifts, so they had no idea. I found the flowers at the Nurse’s desk.

I can’t say I liked MAD, but I often consider this more craft than art. Pottery and thread, and even glasswork, look more craft than art to me. Not that I was not impressed by some of the work. I just find that there is nothing new to learn from well-executed pottery, thread items, and glass. A couple of paintings that I did not like much showed great color and layering that I had not seen before. So, even though I did not like much of the displays, it still had me thinking about the design of the pieces. Maybe that means it worked.

I returned and spent the rest of the day with Susie. Then, she headed off for more workouts at the gym. Everyone is saying she is improving and do see some changes for the better.

Dinner was peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I left Susie and headed out into new rain; it had stopped for hours, after 7ish. I found Kat, and we headed to ABA Turkish-styled food. We decided to eat outside in their little booth as there was almost nobody inside. The rain then came on, and the wind blew the water sideways. A small food leak was just above me, so we pushed in a bit. I did not know the leak was soaking my coat.

While the wind and rain lashed the booth, we had a nice dinner. We skipped the traditional Turkish-style feast and just ordered mains. I had a plate of gyro lamb on a plate with a sauce and yogurt. Kat had Donner with a side of yogurt. I also finally managed an Efes beer. I have been looking for Turkish beer for years. Finally, it was just as wonderful as I remembered it.

They had red heat lights to keep us warm.

The rain slowed just a bit, and I headed to the subway. Kat was worried I would get flooded, but the subway was dry. I was cautious.

I was back to the apartment by 9ish and did very little but sleep.

 

I was up and going about 7:45ish. I managed to have something to eat, write the blog, and get to the hospital about 10:20. Security passed me and remembered me.

Susie was already through breakfast and just a few minutes from Occupational Therapy. I helped get regular clothing out for Susie, and Susie was dressed and ready. She headed down, and I went for a quick sandwich at the baguette place. I stayed with ham and cheese this time, and it was good (the ham and cheese are too run-of-the-mill quality for such good bread).

I returned, and Susie was cleaning up, and I had a pair of pants to launder. Susie’s lunch came, and we chatted through that.

Susie was off next to PT next.

I decided to try a museum forgetting it was Monday (they’re closed), and instead walked a bit in Central Park. I have some numbness in my feet from diabetes, and I did not know I had a huge blister on my toe (I took care of it today). I was uncomfortable walking (not knowing about the new blisters), so it was a short walk.

Susie was back, and I had more laundry to do. Susie changed into the last pair of pants. Those, too, would end up in my laundry.

I then did Susie’s nails. On the way in, I stopped by CVS and got supplies. I picked a hottish pink and replaced the gold, now fading, with pink.

I also got her a notebook to restart her journalling. Susie is to write out everything that happens during the day so she can better remember. This was a permanent thing after the last stroke. Time to restart that. I was surprised by the enthusiasm from the therapists and nursing staff for this step. Susie was getting homework to do her writing from the therapists. The nurses were looking at her writing to see how she was doing with dexterity.

Susie was in a hospital gown when I left her. I had dinner with Kat at 7:30, and we selected Meatballs for dinner. We had done this place before, but we wanted to try a few more items. We sat outside, and I watched the top of the skyscrapers become less and less solid and more haunting. The sky flashed as we finished dinner. We got sprinkled on the way to the trains; Kat always walks me, suspecting (correctly) I will go the wrong way and walk twice as far as required.

One of the taller Billionaire Row building’s top disappeared into the storm. That must have been a strange experience up there. It looked like something out of a horror movie, just needed the dramatic music and a sudden shadow moving on its own (oops, slipped into Howard’s story writing).

On food, Kat had risotto and I the chicken parmesan. It did not look that big, but I think I needed a nap right then after eating it. Kat liked the risotto but thought there were better things on the menu. That is always my opinion of risotto–there is always something better for your money.

I was back at the apartment and collapsed into a heap. Not sure why I was exhausted, but I was.

BTW: The Internet is not working well today, so I cannot even load a photo. So I am sorry if this is just words and might have typos as my checker is running strange. Update: I managed to use my phone for a connection and get one photo.

 

 

 

The morning came too soon. I had to get going early as I needed to do laundry, which is available at 8AM. So I threw on some clothes and went down and brought the need-to-be-washed items. I started the loads and then, having to return to the apartment for the mask I forgot, went to Dunken Donuts. I brought the desk person a donut and got Susie’s fav, chocolate glazed, to take to the hospital. I had a plain one, my fav, with a large coffee. The laundry took about an hour.

I then wrote the blog and then showered and dressed. I was about 90 minutes late.

The 1 train was packed, and the compliance with mask-wearing was lower than a workday. Columbus Circle station was full of people for a Sunday morning.

This is actually Times Square Station, and a telephone is strangely on the platform.

I brought Susie’s Halloween shirt and recently washed clothing. Soon Susie was dressed and off to therapy. I stepped out and had a baguette sandwich nearby that was not that great. So I tried something more exotic, and it was, unfortunately.

I returned to find Susie having lunch and stayed for a few hours. I kept nodding off as I had been up late for two days in a row. I parted with Susie about 2:15ish.

Susie was having some trouble with her speech on Sunday. I am hoping it will be better on Monday after she gets some sleep and drinks more water.

I headed to Times Square for the Regal theater there. Unfortunately, I used my phone to get to the theater and walked a block in the wrong direction. It is not always helpful!

Returning to my starting location, I then turned right and walked a 1/2 block to the theater (not sure what was so hard about that for the Maps app). Some construction had blocked the enormous lighted sign “Regal,” Thus, I did not see it on my first attempt. I bought a ticket, showing my Vax status, and then took six escalators (yes, six, and one was not working, so you had to walk it). I got popcorn and diet soda and entered a dark theater ten minutes late.

I was hoping to miss the previews or at least some of them. It is approaching Halloween, so the previews are mostly things I would prefer not to see. The previews just started as I sat down. The previews mainly were about number x of a horror movie remake.

Surviving the previews, I watched the new Dune movie. It is hard for me not to compare it to the previous film, but it had a totally different feel and a slightly different plot, and it did include most of the scenes from the book I was expecting.

I was impressed with the epic they produced, but I really did miss the look of the steam-punk tech. At one part of the movie, some flashbacks, I suddenly saw a mix of the old and new movies. I had nodded off, but only for a few minutes. I was running my own film in my head, combining the new actors and better effects with steam-punk. I am tired. I managed to stay awake for the rest.

The movie ends 1/2 way through the first book in the seemingly endless Dune books, and there will be a follow-up. If you love Dune, I would suggest the film. If you want another space opera film, this too is a good one. It is a long movie.

I took the 1 train from Times Square back to the apartment and made dinner once there, about 6:30ish. I had Zabar’s premade stuffed cabbage. Two rolls stuffed with rice and meat in the microwave. It was too sweet for me, but I finished it and thought it well made. I will not get it again. I will be back at Zabar’s (stop off at the 79th station on the 1 train) for dinner and supplies on Wednesday night.

I nodded off while reading and slept a few hours, unplanned. I managed to sleep a broken sleep as my legs hurt from all the walking, and my usual pain killers were not enough. I finally slept with the light on, having fallen asleep reading in the early morning of Monday.

An aside: I did have one of those work moments as I remembered it is October, and I need to do the health care assignment for next year, 2022. So I was up at 11:30ish reading tiny text on my phone, trying to figure out how to do the reselections.

I finally got the website up on my Apple computer and discovered that the start date is Monday. Thus, first thing this Monday (before writing the blog), I made my next year’s selection of benefits. It is a must-do and usually done via a Nike networked laptop, but I managed using my phone (using an app called Web that allows me to access the Nike network on a tiny screen) to get the URL. Once I had the URL, it was easy.

Monday is started.

I hope you enjoy this strange story of my accidental residency here in NYC.