Had a heck of a time trying to grab sleep. Offline at 6AM and up only four hours later because
 of the noise outside. The difference between living in a garden level apartment and being on 
 the third floor. Jackhammering chaos bullshit. Eventually got up around three and out by five.
 Reminds you of a Guns N' Roses track, doesn't it?

 Riding brings calm. Puts my mind at ease. Rode up the street to stop by Sel's work and said hi.
 Cheers me up seeing her.
 Coasted all the way down Bergen, on the wrong side of the sidewalk. Bike rules seem strange
 here in the city. In places where the bicycle is expected to follow the flow of traffic (and not in the
 opposite direction as is in other places) there's barely enough room to squeeze by. 
 At least there's less honking from cars. Not only is that rude/annoying, but it distracts the cyclist
 like nothing else. 
 Exploring Park Slope looking for decent coffee. Got on 5th Ave and kept coasting along, past all 
 construction and further, further til I lose all sense of where I was. Somewhere on 35th + 5th.
 The last time I looked I was on 45th + 3rd or thereabouts. This is not good. I can see the river
 from here. It's all industrial complexes, garbage trucks and dock equipment. 
 Two hours to get lost and no coffee in sight.

 Stopped by the first bodega to ask the old Hispanic guys inside for the quickest way home.
 "You driving?"
 No. I rode my bike all the way here. 
 He's impressed. I'm that far from where I started.

 Thanking him and the rest of his compadres who chirped in to help, I zip outta there fast.
 In less than 30 minutes Buffy was on and I promised my sweetest that I'd tape it, season finale
 and all. I was becoming a fan myself, but it really was just a bit scary in that neighborhood.

 All those NYC caveats they tell tourists and newcomers. Whew!
 Clipping swifter than traffic, bypassing a few stoplights after some ten minutes I have the clock
 tower in sight, the tallest structure in Brooklyn. I have this [] much time to get there.
 HA! I'm in! Neverfear - I am here. 

 Clicked the tv on, rode back out to get some Mexfood for supper. Picked up Sel from work, 
 telling her about my crazy adventure while helping her close the store. Watched Angel while
 we munched. Started to relax afterwards. Calculated some eight miles on that ride.

 Online.
 Bobby's on for a quick chat. Nan was on too! Wrote my Mom back. News from her about Dad
 not acclimating so well back home. The heat, noise and pollution make for one unbearably
 nasty soup. 
 Marti's not feeling well either. I wish I could do more than just send a get well ecard.
 I like em all right, but how'd the Opera promotions team get their hooks into my email?!
 Marz has 6GB (that, mon kew, is a LOT) to back-up. He owes me a cd or two: hint! hint!
 Paul Kemp's too busy to cross into Bklyn. So I'm mailing him the van key he lent me during 
 last year's road trip. Yup, two Krishnas and a vanful of herbs. NO, of course I'm not kidding.
 Contacted HP for help with my pc. What I should've done in the first place, as I kick myself
 once as a reminder.

 Considering that I'm doing the Garbo and not actually the outside world for days on end, 
 today was a really awesome time. And I'm exhausted before midnight.
 Think I'll give myself a break from staying up late and get some rest for a change.
 

.

                                                  Kuei New York 

 Manhattan falls into a grid design. At any time that directions are given, expect coordinates,
 like axes on a graph. The first part designates the STREET and the second the AVENUE.
 Brooklyn's Southward, and the five boroughs are all islands, with the exception of The Bronx
 which is on the mainland. 

 What you should really do is set aside a week or two and explore with the natives.
 86 the tourist traps and enjoy the microcosm that each neighborhood offers.
 Bring a camera and snap some pics to send to the folks back home.
 Yep. Of the greatest city in the world. 

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