Big Apple, Day 2

Well, that was fun!

Tuesday was Brooklyn Day. The plan was for me to be picked up at the hotel and driven to the library. It was a great plan. The one part that didn’t quite work out the way we planned was that several of the roads and exits we were supposed to take were closed due to construction. My driver, Donna (who is the sexual assault awareness expert writing the SPEAK/sexual assault curriculum for New York City schools) is from Jersey. I am from Philly. We had no freaking idea where we were in Brooklyn. We needed a hero.

And we got one – Rickie, the janitor at the King’ Bay library. Thank you, Rickie. Thank you, thank you, thank you. He talked us through the confusing streets and parkways and avenues. We got to the library late, but everyone was really kind about it.

And then I got to talk with the students from Sheepshead Bay High School (Home of the Sharks). Wow – they were fantastic. I had so much fun hanging out with them. Brooklyn is definitely my new favorite place. Let me pour a few more gallons of gratitude: thank you very much to all the students for their respect, smiles, and great questions. Thanks also to the teachers (who were much nicer than I remember any of my teachers being!) and Alan, the school administrator whose title I forgot (sorry) for making the experience rock.

Image hosted by TinyPic.com The only thing was they weren’t exactly thrilled that I took their picture. They were much happier looking in person that they appear to be here.

We did not get lost heading back to Manhattan, thanks to Rickie again. However…

A Note To Amtrak
Yo. I like trains. I think public transportation is fantastic. And I’m cheap. Normally I take NJ Transit to get from Trenton to New York. It costs $14 one way. But I was given Amtrak tickets for this trip, and I wasn’t going to turn them down. Amtrak trains are much more comfortable than NJT trains, and are not as crowded. They are also outrageously expensive: $41. So imagine my surprise when I got to Penn Station to find out that I had to stand in line for an hour because Amtrak has no signs explaining the whole reserved/unreserved ticket thing, because they didn’t have enough staff working, and because the staff that was working was ill-informed. Next time, I’ll go NJT.

Thank you for indulging that rant.

For those of you who had money riding on this, my cup of tea at the hotel only cost $1.48. The banana, however, cost $1.50. It’s hard growing banana trees in the city, I guess.

The good news was I got home in time to watch the final Parent Performance of Mer’s drum line team. They spent all last night on a bus to Ohio. Their preliminary round is at 8:30 tonight.

I have a day of laundry and packing. I’m going to escape up North to spend a couple days with Beloved Husband, Number One Son, and the Creature With Fangs.

33 Replies to “Big Apple, Day 2”

  1. My husband’s Amtrak train from Oakland to Salt Lake City was once 16 hours late. That’s right, 16 hours *late*. I could have driven across Nevada and all the way to Oakland to pick him up in that amount of time.

  2. My husband’s Amtrak train from Oakland to Salt Lake City was once 16 hours late. That’s right, 16 hours *late*. I could have driven across Nevada and all the way to Oakland to pick him up in that amount of time.

  3. My husband’s Amtrak train from Oakland to Salt Lake City was once 16 hours late. That’s right, 16 hours *late*. I could have driven across Nevada and all the way to Oakland to pick him up in that amount of time.

  4. It’s hard growing banana trees in the city, I guess.

    *Grins* Ironically enough, I work in a greenhouse in NYC, and yes we have banana trees. Not that anyone eats those bananas as far as I know, but still.

  5. It’s hard growing banana trees in the city, I guess.

    *Grins* Ironically enough, I work in a greenhouse in NYC, and yes we have banana trees. Not that anyone eats those bananas as far as I know, but still.

  6. It’s hard growing banana trees in the city, I guess.

    *Grins* Ironically enough, I work in a greenhouse in NYC, and yes we have banana trees. Not that anyone eats those bananas as far as I know, but still.

  7. Hi there, I’m Michael. I’m down in Tampa, Florida where I go to school. My Language Arts class is currently doing a project where you choose an author to make a poster board on and I chose you. I was really really hoping you might be able to send me something. It would be great if I could present this to my class. I read one of your books, Speak, and even though its about a girl I thought it was great book. It opened me up to a new range of books to read and I thank you for that. Well I’m finishing up the poster board and some research right now so I have to go. If you would like to reach me you can e-mail me at DiAz101@aol.com. I would greatly appreciate it if you would. Maybe just a quick “Hello” would be great. Thanks.

    -Michael

  8. Hi there, I’m Michael. I’m down in Tampa, Florida where I go to school. My Language Arts class is currently doing a project where you choose an author to make a poster board on and I chose you. I was really really hoping you might be able to send me something. It would be great if I could present this to my class. I read one of your books, Speak, and even though its about a girl I thought it was great book. It opened me up to a new range of books to read and I thank you for that. Well I’m finishing up the poster board and some research right now so I have to go. If you would like to reach me you can e-mail me at DiAz101@aol.com. I would greatly appreciate it if you would. Maybe just a quick “Hello” would be great. Thanks.

    -Michael

  9. Hi there, I’m Michael. I’m down in Tampa, Florida where I go to school. My Language Arts class is currently doing a project where you choose an author to make a poster board on and I chose you. I was really really hoping you might be able to send me something. It would be great if I could present this to my class. I read one of your books, Speak, and even though its about a girl I thought it was great book. It opened me up to a new range of books to read and I thank you for that. Well I’m finishing up the poster board and some research right now so I have to go. If you would like to reach me you can e-mail me at DiAz101@aol.com. I would greatly appreciate it if you would. Maybe just a quick “Hello” would be great. Thanks.

    -Michael

  10. Isn’t life great? Fruit now costs more than tea. The way life’s meant to be.

    OK, my sarcasm is spent for this post.

    Amtrak. Whee. Never been on Amtrak. Now I know not to.

    And does the gratitude drink come in bulk? If so, I’m gonna need a few gallons.

  11. Isn’t life great? Fruit now costs more than tea. The way life’s meant to be.

    OK, my sarcasm is spent for this post.

    Amtrak. Whee. Never been on Amtrak. Now I know not to.

    And does the gratitude drink come in bulk? If so, I’m gonna need a few gallons.

  12. Isn’t life great? Fruit now costs more than tea. The way life’s meant to be.

    OK, my sarcasm is spent for this post.

    Amtrak. Whee. Never been on Amtrak. Now I know not to.

    And does the gratitude drink come in bulk? If so, I’m gonna need a few gallons.

  13. Ashley Lyday

    hey, this is ashley from clint small middle school. you agreed to look over my story for me and let me know what you like about it and i’m typing it up on my computer now so i can get it to you soon… here’s my email and let me know when you get this message!! thanks so much, i appreciate your help

    ashleylyday@hotmail.com

  14. Ashley Lyday

    hey, this is ashley from clint small middle school. you agreed to look over my story for me and let me know what you like about it and i’m typing it up on my computer now so i can get it to you soon… here’s my email and let me know when you get this message!! thanks so much, i appreciate your help

    ashleylyday@hotmail.com

  15. Ashley Lyday

    hey, this is ashley from clint small middle school. you agreed to look over my story for me and let me know what you like about it and i’m typing it up on my computer now so i can get it to you soon… here’s my email and let me know when you get this message!! thanks so much, i appreciate your help

    ashleylyday@hotmail.com

  16. Well sounds as if you had a wee bit of fun there. Yeah… Us teenagers tend to be a happyer bunch in person then on film… something about the flashing bulb thing that just drives us into our meany faces. Go clean. Go love. Go have fun. Go rest. From one blonde to the other, I demand you to do the four things i listed.

  17. Well sounds as if you had a wee bit of fun there. Yeah… Us teenagers tend to be a happyer bunch in person then on film… something about the flashing bulb thing that just drives us into our meany faces. Go clean. Go love. Go have fun. Go rest. From one blonde to the other, I demand you to do the four things i listed.

  18. Well sounds as if you had a wee bit of fun there. Yeah… Us teenagers tend to be a happyer bunch in person then on film… something about the flashing bulb thing that just drives us into our meany faces. Go clean. Go love. Go have fun. Go rest. From one blonde to the other, I demand you to do the four things i listed.

  19. Hi Laurie!

    I read your book “Speak” on a recommendation from a friend and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I was crying and laughing–simply put, it was a wonderful story. I’m very excited about the movie!

    You’re an excellent and inspiring writer. I’m adding you as a friend, if you don’t mind.

    I am an aspiring author and I think reading your LJ will be quite beneficial in helping me “see” the writer’s life, and hopefully pushing me to get over my fear and get my work out there. 🙂

    Keep up the good work, and congratulations on PROM!

  20. Hi Laurie!

    I read your book “Speak” on a recommendation from a friend and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I was crying and laughing–simply put, it was a wonderful story. I’m very excited about the movie!

    You’re an excellent and inspiring writer. I’m adding you as a friend, if you don’t mind.

    I am an aspiring author and I think reading your LJ will be quite beneficial in helping me “see” the writer’s life, and hopefully pushing me to get over my fear and get my work out there. 🙂

    Keep up the good work, and congratulations on PROM!

  21. Hi Laurie!

    I read your book “Speak” on a recommendation from a friend and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I was crying and laughing–simply put, it was a wonderful story. I’m very excited about the movie!

    You’re an excellent and inspiring writer. I’m adding you as a friend, if you don’t mind.

    I am an aspiring author and I think reading your LJ will be quite beneficial in helping me “see” the writer’s life, and hopefully pushing me to get over my fear and get my work out there. 🙂

    Keep up the good work, and congratulations on PROM!

  22. hello, my names Megan. i just wanted to tell you that i love your books. so far i have only read 2 of the, Speak and Catalyst, but every moment of them i loved. i have to say Speak is my favorite book. What i liked most about it is that it made me think. Most books are bland, they dont have a sense of humour or any emotion. i love your books. I have hopes of being a writer some day, somehow i doubt that highly. yet i still wish that would come true. I just wanted to say that you are without a doubt my favorite author. I’m sure youre told that alot. I dont know if you would want to but if you would like you could e-mail me at beatendownandstaying@hotmail.com

  23. hello, my names Megan. i just wanted to tell you that i love your books. so far i have only read 2 of the, Speak and Catalyst, but every moment of them i loved. i have to say Speak is my favorite book. What i liked most about it is that it made me think. Most books are bland, they dont have a sense of humour or any emotion. i love your books. I have hopes of being a writer some day, somehow i doubt that highly. yet i still wish that would come true. I just wanted to say that you are without a doubt my favorite author. I’m sure youre told that alot. I dont know if you would want to but if you would like you could e-mail me at beatendownandstaying@hotmail.com

  24. hello, my names Megan. i just wanted to tell you that i love your books. so far i have only read 2 of the, Speak and Catalyst, but every moment of them i loved. i have to say Speak is my favorite book. What i liked most about it is that it made me think. Most books are bland, they dont have a sense of humour or any emotion. i love your books. I have hopes of being a writer some day, somehow i doubt that highly. yet i still wish that would come true. I just wanted to say that you are without a doubt my favorite author. I’m sure youre told that alot. I dont know if you would want to but if you would like you could e-mail me at beatendownandstaying@hotmail.com

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