Those Ipod Headphone & Those Roller Shoes

These two objects made me think this morning.

First. Those white ipod headphones that EVERYONE wears. The are the young hipsters in tight jeans and all stars. Business men on the subway who get off at Times Square. Even religious people who listen to the TorahPod.

It's amazing how universal ipods and there white, signature headphones are. There isn't any product quite as universal that I can think of. Yes, there are cell phones, but those are "essential" in a way, and often replace land lines entirely. What else does almost everyone own, that's so non-essential?

Ok. So everyone has an ipod. What gets me though is when people have in the headphones when they are in a social situation. This morning, I walked by a diner and saw a little kid (probably 10 years old) who was sitting with him mom at the diner counter, having breakfast. He had in his obligatory ipod headphones. Isn't he interacting with his mother? Aren't they in a social setting?!

Seeing this kid reminded me of when I coached rowing this past school year at NYU. So one morning, we were at the boathouse early and it was very dark. On this one morning (among the many), one team member (a very unpleasant one who eventually quit) and I were standing out on the dock. I was talking to him about what that morning's practice was going to be. In the dark, I didn't see much; his white apple headphones DID stand out and catch my attention.

So, I'm speaking to this kid, or at least trying. And he has his headphones in. Is the ipod on pause? Is the volume down? Is there even an ipod in his pocket or is this all some absurd allusion? So I said, "Hey, Bob, do you mind taking out your headphones?" Of course, he is insolent, saying it's on pause. Right. Do I believe him? Or is he lying to me? What is going on here?!

I know. I sound a little paranoid.

The point here: what have we come to that people sit together, with their headphones in and ipods on, (or on their phones) and no one is talking to each other? Do we really want to be that anti-social?

******Roller Shoes
On a lighter note, I saw the first adult I've seen wearing roller shoes this morning. He would run and then pop out the wheels. I am not sure how they work--my main question is how did he run with them like regular shoes, and then the wheels came out? But the guy looked like he was having an awesome time. He was going much faster than me, and it looked fun. As I said, I haven't seen too many adults wearing these shoes. I wonder why not?

Another question: How do people not fall? Like with roller blades or roller skates? How is it just smooth gliding?

A Few Photos

אהבה. Love. I dont remember where this was taken.

A puddle at Kibbutz Mordechai; where you can buy Naots.

In San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Tristan took this photo. That's me standing outside.

Here are a few photos. Not new. But nice to look at still. Enjoy.

SoHo in the morning

Walking to the subway, to work this am...here are some sights, sounds, thoughts from along the way:

Older women walking little dogs.
Construction workers with blue bandanas.
Gray haired man with white button down shirt flying by on a bicycle.
Window washing at Bloomingdales.
Man in a tshirt: Elevator Technician.
Long line at Dean and Deluca for coffee.
Avoiding puddles at corners.
Yellow taxis zooming by.
Big trucks on their way to jobs, jostling back and forth over the cobble stone of Wooster St.
A man returns from walking his dog, takes keys out, unlocks door.
Silver and gold strappy sandals.

Overwhelmed and Excited and !

Last night, I helped Jeff (a friend from Otzma) with his birthright trip. This entailed my going to the airport with him, handing out tickets, name tags, helping logistically with all the kids, since his co-leader (another Otzma kid) is already in Israel. I happily obliged (plus the $100 I will receive helped!).

I have to say, this 5 hours at the airport was totally overwhelming. For many reasons.

First of all, birthright is for kids who have never been on a peer trip to Israel. A majority of these kids had never been AT ALL. And were generally ignorant of Israel and Jewish-related issues. They didn't know the word aliyah, for the most part. So here's this group of 40 kids, going for the first time to Israel, the place that I have decided I will make my home.

Birthright was where it all started for me. My first tastes of the distinct Israeli hummus (much better than the too smooth, industrial stuff we have here), first exposure to the amazing, unique character of the Israeli sabra, and my first experience in the sands of the Negev desert (where I will be making my life soon). Just to name a few firsts.

These 40 individuals are embarking on the beginning of a (potential) journey that started for me nearly 7 years ago. That thought gives me pause.

Second-the location that we met the birthright kids was the same location in Terminal 4 of JFK that we all met for Otzma, just a little over 2 years ago. It evoked a feeling of deja vu. And a feeling of sadness. But mostly, I was filled with so much excitement, thinking back to that year that I really had no idea what it would be filled with, that turned out to transform my life and its path.

This combination of seeing these birthright-ers at the beginning of their journey and returning to this same location that started the year-long Otzma trip all made me very overwhelmed and excited at my future.

I then returned home (a long, dreadful subway ride--this theme is recurrent, as the subway is a daily, or more, part of a new yorkers life) to have fitful, bizarre dreams about this birthright's trip arrival to Israel, about people from different parts of my life somehow getting in contact with each other, and more.

Last night made my decision to make aliyah much more real. It reminded me how I got to this decision. It showed me that I, too, will soon be at the airport, filled with nervous energy and excitement to start the next segment of my journey.

Not 17 inches

I wrote 17 inches of rain fell in Central Park. I read another article this morning. It says 1.7 inches.

So either the NY Times made a typo, or I misread.

I stand corrected.

On another, but related note, I was talking to someone who just moved back to Israel from NYC. I was telling him he was lucky not to be here yesterday with the horrible subways, etc etc.

His response: "At least you have a subway!"

I will remember to be apprecative!

Subways in New York City

It's amazing and it's horrible. I will miss the new york city subways. But I will also be SO glad to not ride in them again for a long time.

This morning is an example of why the subway system can be a total nightmare. This morning, between 6 and 7 am, it was reported there were 17 inches of rain that fell in Central Park. And there were tornado warnings!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/nyregion/08cnd-weather.html?ex=1344225600&en=90f54cfc096051b2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

I woke up late this morning, and (little did I know luckily!) was late to the subway station. When I walked down into the Prince St NRQW line, the station was FULL. Usually this is a good sign, and means a train will arrive momentarily. However, this morning, it was because people had been waiting 30+ minutes. During rush hour, you never wait more than 3-4 minutes. Maybe 7 on a bad day.

But today was different. The subway system cannot handle when there is extreme weather. Yes I know that the subway system is over 100 years old, and normally it runs smoothly, blah blah.

So back to the Prince St station. People are dripping sweat. Backs of shirts and soaking, sweat is beading on noses, everyone is fanning madly. We have been told that the trains ARE running. Just delayed.

I all of a sudden had a brilliant thought--I will take a different train that doesn't get as close to my office, but close enough. I ask the attendant through those ridiculous bullet proof window-microphone system where no one hears anything. He kindly informs me that no 6 train is running at all.

Basically, the whole subway system has practically shut down because of flooding. And there is a heat advisory today, temperatures reaching into the high 90s, high humidity, and the subways are not running as they should.

New York is amazing!

Although I may sound negative about this morning's commute, I love the subway too. Sometime's it's a refreshing experience. You walk through the turnstile, the train immediately arrives, it's air conditioned and not crowded. You speedily arrive at your destination, which can be anywhere--the Bronx Zoo (in the Bronx, off the 123 line) or Coney Island (at the end of Brooklyn, off the F line).

I guess I will miss it.