I've been walking to work a lot lately. It's about 30 blocks, give or take an avenue. It's a real nice walk around 9:30 in the morning, when most folks have already settled into their office. Fifth Ave between 23rd and the mid 30s is a pretty clear path. That's my favorite stretch, I think. The sun is shining by then on that block. It feels good on my shoulders.

Tonight I took the F to 6th and 14th and walked up to the meatpacking district to go to a few gallery openings. (I'm trying to do more cultural events because what the fuck? I live in New York, right? Why am I not enjoying myself more?) I liked the work of Mark Milroy the best, for no particular reason other than it was just appealing stuff. I drank a beer really quickly. I couldn't decide if I wanted to pee or not. I only knew I didn't want to walk home.

I started to walk to the subway, and then I thought, I can't do it. I'm already sick of the smell of the subway in the summer. I took the bus instead, something I haven't done in a while. The M14 rocks. If you haven't taken it, I highly recommend it. It just goes up and down 14th street. It gets you where you need to go, you know what I mean? You sit, it moves slowly, and you watch the world go by. The best part is there's none of that cab seasick feeling.

An elderly gentleman sat next to me and was sweet, and there were German tourists standing nearby and they were sweet, and I put my head down against the window and noted that the Happy Cry Funny crappy gift store was still intact, fighting the good fight against the Urban Outfitters and Starbucks on the next corner, and there are five million people in love on the streets of Manhattan and they are wearing tank tops and walking slowly and holding hands and nuzzling, and people are still eating fast food, and people are still joining gyms, and if you are not in love you are in a hurry to go home, I think so that you don't have to see all those people in tank tops making out all over the place.

I own a lot of tank tops but I am not in love. I like the bus. I like to walk. I do not like the subway. I do not mind taking the long way to work or home.

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