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The morning was a struggle as I was up late coming back from a Broadway Show last Friday night. I managed to do the needed things and use the last of the instant coffee, Maxwell House. I headed to the Saturday version of 1 train, and folks are less masked on the weekend. But, I still felt safe, so I managed to be 30 minutes late, but there was no wait at the hospital security. They put my image on the sticker, and the sticker states which floor(s) I am allowed; there is a place for a round sticker saying that my vax state is good. Surprisingly, they were out of stickers. Nobody noticed as I have a separate sticker for vax status. Again, security knew me and asked me how Susie was.

Susie was not dressed but had finished breakfast. So we are back to Anne O as Susie’s nurse over the weekend. We all agreed that Susie should get dressed in regular clothing. So Susie spent the day dressed.

Susie had a rest day with no treatments or tests. So we found something to put on the TV and relaxed a bit. That means I fell asleep in the chair a few times.

I also received some laundry to do. This Sunday morning (when I am writing this) was another laundry day.

Susie and I tried a few games of Solitare together to have something to do, and it helped Susie a bit. We won one and lost one.

I also did my newest mentalism card trick that I picked up at the magic store in NYC, Tannen’s. I managed to not botch the trick as the cards are new and slippery. Susie loved it. I prepared two versions of it in my passport holder, so I did it twice for Susie.

I headed out 4ish as I had to meet Kat in a new location, Magnolia Bakery. So I headed to Columbus Circle to discover a big party was ramping down. Two streets were closed off, and a gal was belting out newish rock. So I found a cup of coffee and a table to wait for Kat.

Kat showed soon, and we purchased excellent banana puddings, Kat’s fav, and took the Q line from 57th station to Upper East Side. A decidedly cleaner train than the 1 train I ride. We reached the East Side with surprising dispatch and walked a few blocks to our target, Natasha and Jason’s place.

Kat knew the rituals with the doorman, and soon we were on the 15 and found TJH (Tash’s and Jason’s House).

Dinner was grilled on the roof community space with an excellent view of NYC. The steaks were perfect, as were the sides. TJH is the best steakhouse I have been to in NYC!

I then taught, and we played a game of Concordia. This is a fav and Kat had played with me when she was in Oregon a few months ago with her parents. So Kat had a handle on the game. This is a resource and worker placement game using a deck-building mechanism to allow the player more options. Each turn, a card is played, and the action(s) on the card is done. For example, the placement of trading houses over the Roman times and managing resources for that would be a good game, but adding card purchasing and super-powers in the cards makes it an excellent game. The scoring is based on how many Roman providences you trade-in, how many non-brick trading posts you have, and how many different types of items you trade. This is multiplied by the kinds of cards you have at the end of the game.

I explained the game using the board as my starting point. I have taught this game a few times, so I covered what is needed to play. The scoring at the end-of-game is too complex to cover (it needs to be experienced), but I ensured that Natasha and Jason were building trading houses that would score well. Natasha figured it out beat us, and Jason followed next in scoring. And Kat knocked me to last place. I am not sure who was teaching whom!

We finished the puddings after I tried out my mentalism trick. I managed to hold it together, and they were surprised by the ending, which has a neat double punch. B Wave deluxe is an excellent purchase from Tannen’s. It is a packet card trick for those who speak magician with the original known as Brain Wave before the last revisions.

Kat and I traveled back to our lairs. I transferred trains to the West Side at Times Square. And managed to get back about 2ish. It is a hard start on Sunday. Laundry.

Working backward, I was back at the apartment this morning at 1:30ish. I had taken the 50th Street 1 train back. I had to walk to Times Square, not a place to be in the 1980s so late but seemed OK today, to reach the subway. Kat and I parted at 50th street as she headed home after dinner.

Dinner was a Junior’s famous for the huge dinners and cheesecake. I had a tuna melt, and Kat had the chicken salad (it was huge). We only waited, at 11PM, for only ten minutes to get to a table. I have observed here and in Oregon that social distancing fails in lines for food joints. We were packed in tight to get on the waiting list!

We were there so late as we had gone to the reopening of The Phantom of the Opera. I have seen it many times, but never on Broadway. It was the usual fantastic show, and the voices were strong and clear. Our nose-bleed seats allowed us to hear and see the stage, but we were not in sight of the famous chandelier.

As it was reopening, I was not surprised that Andrew Lloyd Webber introduced the show to a standing ovation when it was announced that the Majestic Theater was reopened. The seats had swag for everyone, including a rose and a mask, and a special Phantom mask. They took a pic of the audience wearing the masks to celebrate the restart.

Before this, I spent most of the day at Mount Sinai West with Susie. Susie had a busy day with her having two therapy sessions and an ultrasound on her legs. Susie’s heart rate at rest is too fast, this might be an existing condition not caused by the stroke, so there are some concerns. However, Susie is not impacted and does not notice.

Susie this morning got dressed in her regular clothing and looked happier to find a bit of routine. She did walk down the halls with the supplied walker for both sessions.

I was there about 10ish and managed to sleep better that night. So I just pop on the 1 train walking a few blocks on both sides.

I was up around 7ish and not so tired. I made breakfast and took my meds, and then shaved with a new razer that worked with bleeding. I took some more clothing for Susie that was requested. I arrived a few minutes early at Mount Sinai West.

I followed the process and soon was with Susie. She then was moved to a new room, 10G 56B, with a window. The view is of a building being reconstructed. I suggested that Susie’s Occupational Therapy was brink laying in the construction to a few nurses. They smiled. Later one of the same nurses asked me if she should check their work next door. I agreed that the bricklaying needs a quick check.

Susie went off to PT for a while. I headed out to see some more of NYC.

Susie and her nurse Gerry are in the new room 56B.

I decided to take the 1 train to the end. I like riding public transit and thought riding it to the finish would be nice. But, I saw the train was near the World Trade Center, so I got out early. Then, I walked into the garden that is now the 9/11 site. It nearly had me crying–it is a physically sad place.

I finally have seen it all finished. The Freedom Tower is a wonder. I decided not to visit the tower or the museum as I would usually do that with Susie. Another time.

Amazing look!

The sad garden.

I did not know anyone that died that day, but friends of mine knew some of the people in the Boston plane. It almost hurt to stand there and look at the repaired buildings and new garden. I saw the crushed sculpture that used to sit between the towers on a walkway. Still painful for me to be there. I left quickly.

I then walked for hours and hours to Battery Park and the end of the 1 train. It is a walk along the river, and you can see the Statue of Liberty as you walk.

I also stopped by the tiny Skyscraper Museum and saw the models and pictures of all the monumental buildings in the world. It is a nice little stop.

That is an NYC residential building in Billionaire Row behind me. It exists and is huge tall–I have seen it. I cannot imagine living near the top and watching my coffee sway in the cup on a windy morning day!

I was tired when I finally walked to the start (or end) of the 1 train. I road it back. Back to Mount Sinai West. Susie was headed out for more treatment. I rested in the chair; my back hurt. Finally, some water and all the pain ended, and thus discovering I was dehydrated! I will remember that next time. I had skipped lunch as my breakfast was too big (too many nice things from Zabar’s).

Susie finished dinner, and I headed out. It was chicken, again, and Susie liked it.

I met Kat just outside the Kat Lair and headed to Vahalla. A bar with bar food that has a Viking theme. It was a tap house with some food. We ordered sliders, beef for me, and chicken breasts for Kat. I ordered a beer that was supposed to be Unicorn Blood Red Ale. I would suggest that it was produced in a different way by a Unicorn. I would not order it again! But the sliders and fries were good. Unfortunately, they do not have coffee.

Kat and I decided on an early night, and I took the 1 train back.

I hope you enjoy following along.

Sleep was hard to get last night. I started earlier after a rough night, around 7:30, but had planned a 6ish start. I was just too tired to do that. Not extra rest; I have laundry to do. I also wrote yesterday’s story this morning.

I threw on some clothes, made instant coffee, and then, at 8ish, went down to do laundry. I ran two machines and quickly finished the work of new clean clothing. I will need to do some bedding and towels soon, but I did not have any bleach for the whites. So that will wait.

I have a laundry card now. The machine that provides the cards says to put a $10 to buy a $5 valued card (thus buying the physical card for $5), but that did not work. The vending machine showed a message about the wrong type of bill. So instead, I put a $5 and got the card for free with $5 on it. I added some more money and then used my own card today. Another little victory.

I dressed in newly cleaned clothing and headed out.

I had no bagels that were not rock hard, so I stopped by the local market, being nearly an hour later, for a banana (50 cents). I ate that quickly by the trash can and then on to the 1 train.

I reached the hospital and followed the usual rituals to get access. When I reached Susie’s room, 10G Room 50A, she was off working out in the gym. I waited, and Susie appeared soon. I delivered her clean pants and PJ bottoms. I am to bring some t-shirts and other items on Thursday.

Susie is tired today (I am tired too). I waited for her lunch to be delivered; I cut her peanut butter and jelly sandwich into quarters for her. That is her fav way to eat a sandwich. I then kissed her goodbye for the day. I have chores today, and I, too, am tired.

Lunch today is at the Greek Kitchen. I am starved and order moussaka as I want to try their version. It was just OK. I have not found moussaka that wows me. The search will have to continue!

Next, I find a UPS store and pay $3.08 to use their desktop to print the tickets I have for the Phantom of the Opera on Friday. I am taking Kat to the show. But, the tickets are print-at-home. I asked customer service to change this, and they said it was not possible (!?). Thusly, I went to the UPS store, paid for access to their machine, and printed the tickets on their printer. It was an eye-rolling moment.

Back to 1 train uptown, I stopped at 79th station and went shopping at Zabar’s for dinner and other supplies. I picked out German bratwurst and stuffed peppers as microwave meals. They had some fine bread and cheeses (some deeply discounted). More plain-styled olives. Butter if I want to cook eggs. And all packed into another Zabar’s bag, which I carried back to the 1 train and walked home. I have two now,

By the way, a guy needed two quarters to get a ticket for the train at 79th station, and I had them as the change from the banana (see above). So I gave them to him telling him, they must be his. Not sure if it was Karma or just chance, but I hope for Karma.

After putting away my purchases, I contacted one of my medical folks. I will not be able to enjoy the scheduled test as I will still be in NYC next week. They rescheduled me for December, but I am on the waiting list after my return planned for after Nov. 5 (Guy Fawkes Day). My bleeding has stopped again, and I have been feeling a bit stronger these last few days. A solution needs to be found, but I can manage.

I then felt the lack of sleep and the miles of walking over the last few days, fell asleep reading. I woke about 5ish and then walked the 1/2 mile to the RiteAid and picked up some new scripts, some more tape for my blisters, and new razors while disposable is not as stupidly cheap as the ones I have been using. I also got some bleach for the whites I will likely wash soon.

I made dinner of bratwursts and cabbage from Zabar’s in the microwave. I cut a nice piece of cheese to go with it and made Russian-style tea to go with it (drinking around the tea leaves).

It was delicious.

I then made a few calls and watched the video on doing the magic trick I picked up yesterday from Tannen’s. I did not know it was based on an older scheme I remember in a book on my shelf back in Oregon. It was fun to learn the requirements and history, and I will likely practice it while here in NYC. It is a wallet trick meaning you can out in a wallet and use it ad hoc.

I read a bit, almost falling asleep again, and then decided I better write this before it gets any later and more challenging to stay awake.

I will try to do more cleaning in the morning. I am tired, so I think sleep will finally come tonight. I hope you have enjoyed the story.

Working backward this time, it is Wednesday morning, and I am writing Tuesday’s story.

I finally slept. The apartment went up to 80F+ last night, so I put on the AC device and got it back to 70Fs. That is with the window open all night. I am still having time change issues as it still seems very early when I get up at 7ish and not very late at midnight.

I attended, as an observer, having resigned my membership in the Methodist Church when the anti-gay and racist traditional plan was passed at the General Conference, my Oregon church’s Charge Conference. I was 15 minutes late as dinner, and the subway trains ran slower than planned.

For those who do not speak Methodist, there is a meeting once a year where the local church has a meeting that is run by the Conference (the main church), and reports are reviewed, and once a year, votes are taken. The pastor’s pay is approved. The committee is filled (or not), and other admin items are covered.

This year my church was exposed to the deadly future evaluation process usually used to shut down a church. The report was not ready for the Charge Conference, no surprise, as the Conference seems suddenly backing away from the rather loud voice of my church and a lack of transparency. There were two questions on process and transparency (one from me) that were dismissed. Also, the Conference delegate running the meeting said that he needed to sanitize the report from some personal information. I bet.

It was a perfunctory meeting. I can’t vote as I am an observer.

Before this, I road all the 1 train back after having a nice, slightly expensive, dinner with Kat at the Blue restaurant near the Kat Lair. Kat had her first mussels and clams and scallops. It was fun; we just had starters for dinner.

Before popping down 9th, I stayed with Susie as she ate her dinner. She had three workouts today, and we learned that the program would like to keep her for three weeks. Meaning, I am not leaving NYC until November! That was a shocker.

I did card tricks with her for about an hour to practice with the new deck.

I road the B train to Columbus Circle from 33rd street in Midtown. I was on a search for the oldest magic shop in NYC, Tannen’s. It took me an hour to find it. It is across from the Empire State Building and a few blocks from the Chrysler Building. I thus circled the Empire State Building, it is enormous, trying to find the store.

It is not a storefront but on the 6th floor at the back behind a glass door in the 45 building across from the place to go to the observation deck on the Empire State Building. All the navigation apps just had me circling it as it was in the air from where I was standing! I was the only person not staring at the massive building.

The store was once room, painted in black, and just one room. A shabby elephant puppet and an old bathtub are the decore. Lee, the proprietor, was behind a counter with a pad to do card work on, and he helped me find a few books and a few perfectly ordinary card decks. One I gave to Kat at dinner.

I then chatted again with Lee, and he then showed me a simple trick that he then sold me; I will be practicing tonight for that one. I also learned that the bathtub came from Houdini’s house in New York.

The magic shop is for professionals, and I recognized some of the small tables and other items. Most of the things are kept in small cabinets with long and narrow drawers. The glass case had many stage magic items. Tempting, but I stick to card tricks and simple mentalism tricks.

There is also an original Carter the Great poster on the wall. Carter was the first modern magician and is the model for what most of us think of as a stage magician. I also saw various Houdini handcuffs in a frame on the wall.

I had lunch after finding the shop at Etc. This is a crazy place where all the food is to-go. The hot food is buffet styled (just say No to a buffet in a pandemic). I got an Italian-styled sandwich that I ate as I only had a bagel for breakfast.

I stumbled into The Complete Strategist gaming store when walking the wrong way. Surprised I went in. I looked for items I couldn’t get somewhere else, but they had primarily new stock. I managed to resist any purchases. The books from the Tannen’s were already heavy enough.

To get to Midtown, I took a complex set of transfers and got off at the wrong station at one point. So I got to listen to a guy playing the Sax as I sat waiting for the next train. He was sitting below an Alice tile shadow picture. It was fun to find one’s way in NYC.

Starting from the beginning of Tuesday, I managed to get to the hospital on time after starting a bit late at 8ish. The usual process of breakfast bagel, clean up, dress, 1 train, and all that.

Susie was walking and going to the gym dressed in street clothes right that morning. So that is when I headed out for the search for the magic store.

I hope you liked the story for today.