Random New York

Uh oh! Someone hasn’t been reading Fussy’s Fight the Frump.

Didn’t wash his hands in the men’s room. (Said Spin. Eww!)

WC for Water Closet. Is that European? No men’s or women’s rooms?

Guess we’re an equal-opportunity elimination country.

Yes. That is a chair chained up in a tree?

Why, you ask?

This guy ran out of room in his apartment.

I know there’s plenty of ‘weird’ out there – but I’ve never seen so much of it all in one place as in New York City.

I wish I had photos of every weird thing, but I wasn’t in the mood to have the crap beat outta’ me by the crazed masses on the streets.

WHAT is it with NYC cab and limo drivers? Can’t TELL you how many times we got in and told them where we needed to go and then had to give them directions.

One time I took the kids to the zoo, we hopped in and said “Central Park Zoo, please”. “Ah, okay. (in a thick middle-eastern accent) Okay – you know where is the zoo?” Seriously? Gonna’ take a stab in the dark here and guess CENTRAL PARK?

Want to know why the Dial 7 limo service is named Tel-Aviv? Because that’s where all the drivers are from.

Nothing quite says, “Leave it to me. All is under control.” like getting into a cab with more Arabic writing on the car than English.

Honestly.

LOTS of Europeans in the city, taking advantage of our weak dollar. Those were some happy shoppers.

And last, but NOT least, the rather *ahem* unique crowd attending Thrillerfest 2008 that was held at our hotel while we were there.

Ever wondered what a thriller author looks like?

Ted Bundy.

Every single one of them.

Imagine hundreds of them prowling the lobby and hallways of our hotel.

Those were some creepy looking dudes. (Well, from my peripheral vision, that is. I couldn’t look at them full on. Too scary.)

There was this thrilling seminar on Saturday afternoon:

Terrorism, Weapons, Bombs and Intelligence are great fodder for thrillers today. So, we’re bringing in the experts to feed the curiosity of our readers and provide authors with the real scoop.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will be our distinguished guest at ThrillerFest 2008.

Supervisory Special Agent Joseph Green of New York City’s ATF field office will discuss the role the ATF plays in protecting America from threats, both foreign and domestic. Several Special Agents will demonstrate the weapons and tools the ATF uses in day-to-day operations. See and handle weapons used by law enforcement plus confiscated street guns and trafficking handguns! Learn about explosives and more! Get answers straight from the experts.

But a nap after that pitcher of Sangria sounded more relaxing.

Do ya’ think?!

I just don’t know that there is an adequate way to sum up the weirdness that is New York. And if there is, I am clearly not the author for the job.

I’ll tell you one thing….. I feel very, very normal compared to the colorful mass of humanity that calls NYC home.

Yes, that’s me.

Boring. Average.

And fine with it all.