Back in NYC

But not home yet...

My alarm was set for 8:00 but I had some trouble getting up. I managed though eventually. Then had breakfast and coffee, showered and dressed, and finished getting things packed and the cottage ready for leaving.

Linda came to say goodbye, and I gave her the Cheerios. The cab got there early which was both good and bad. Good cause I didn't have to sit and worry, bad because I had to rush. It was the same cabbie as last time, and he remembered how to find me. That was good.

So because he was early I got to the train station very early, Nothing to do but wait. The train was a few minutes late, no big deal.

I got on and found a good seat, someone helped me get my suitcase in the luggage rack, and I settled in. Around Syracuse I made my way to the cafe car and once again had a stromboli and diet Coke. I called mashfanficchick.

Here I have to report that, in an amazing display of going above and beyond the call of duty, ze and RK did a total makeover of the turtle tank yesterday. Cleaned it, RK got a new filter which I owe him for now, and borrowed an electric pump to get the water out, and they cleaned out the sludge. My thanks are boundless and deep, and I owe them much.

But anyway, after I called zer, I attempted to Team the FWiB from my phone, which, using the Amtrak WiFi, was less than perfect. But it was nice anyway.

Then I napped for awhile, and nothing much of interest happened til Albany, where we had a layover, of over an hour while they added another train to ours, from Montreal. That took longer than it was supposed to.

Anyway, that resulted in us getting to NYC later than scheduled. Here I should explain that, since RK has my keys, I can't go directly home. Of course I have my door key, the copy that I made for my Ohio trip, but the fob to get in the building, I don't have. And at the time I was getting in, I wasn't going to rely on luck that someone would be entering as I was. And I hate the "ring random bells til someone buzzes you in" trick. So the plan was for me to come to mashfanficchick's and stay the night, and go home tomorrow, when RK would have given zer my keys to give me.

With all my luggage I wasn't thrilled with the idea of taking the subway here and walking from the subway stop. So I figured I'd take the Long Island Rail Road from the Train Hall, to Forest Hills or Kew Gardens and an Uber from there.

Which is what I did. I looked up the two stops and it said Forest Hills station was accessible, with ramps. Spoiler alert... they lied. But I thought that there were ramps, and the Ronkonkama line goes to Forest Hills, so that's what I decided on.

I was planning on eating in the station before I left. Everything except the bar was closed when I got in. So, no food. Oh well. I got on the 11:17 train.

I got on at the rear of the train, and i walked up to the second to last car, and got settled in. Then, just before they pulled out they announced that only the first six cars would open at Forest Hills (because it's a short platform). I was in car 9.

I had to make my way up three cars, and I wasn't going to exit the train to do it. I barely fit down the aisle. Bumping and banging and dragging my suitcase, my backpack and laptop bag catching on the seats, I struggled up the cars. The train started moving. I had to get between the cars of a moving train. Not like the Amtrak trains, where you're permitted and expected to move between cars and there's safeguards. No. In the LIRR you are NOT supposed to do that, and I did it anyway, twice. One of the more dangerous things I've ever done.

Finally I made it to car 6 and sort of collapsed in a seat. They never got around to collecting my ticket, so that was a wasted $4.50. We got to Forest Hills and I got out, and looked for the promised ramps. If there are ramps, I did not find them.

So I started struggling down the stairs. Avery nice gentleman offered to help and I let him carry the suitcase down, so that was good.

From there on it was easy going. I ordered an Uber, and went to mashfanficchick's apartment. But here I should explain that ze is not here. Ze is staying with a friend of hers who just had her gallbladder out, to help out. So I'm staying here alone, Which is a bummer. But understandable.

So anyway, here I am, I hooked up my laptop, had a few handfuls of zer plantain chips, and am getting ready to go to bed.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. Safely here.

3. All the people who helped with my luggage.

4. RK and mashfanficchick

5. I have spare meds here so don't have to unpack my suitcase fir meds.

6, A lovely vacation.

Finally home

I woke up this morning around 10:00, and puttered around mashfanficchick's apartment, trying to decide what to do.

RK messaged me at a little after 11:00 to say he'd bring my keys over in 10 or 15 minutes, so I waited for him til he called and said he was there when I went out and collected my keys.

I called mashfanficchick and asked zer if ze was coming home today, in which case I would wait for her, or not, in which case I would just go home. Ze said I should go home and we'd see each other tomorrow.

So I checked out things online, put my laptop away, took a shower, dressed (in the same clothes I wore yesterday so I didn't have to open my suitcase) and went down to the bank and Starbucks to have coffee and breakfast before I left.

I went to the bank and just when I was entering Starbucks my phone rang. It was the FWiB, because there was little chance of being able to Team tonight but he had a bit of time so he wanted to touch base, which was lovely.

So we talked outside Starbucks for awhile, and then I went in and got one of their new strata frappechinos and a breakfast sandwich and ate there. Then I went back to the apartment, got my stuff together, and got an Uber. The Uber took the most bizarre way to get to my place, but it got there, and I got home safely.

Oreo was glad to see me I think. He's been mostly pretty close to me since I got here. The turtle tank looks wonderful, but there is one problem. It's not squarely on the stand, it's hanging off about an inch and a half. Which I didn't notice til after I'd been here several hours.

First I put my laptop up, and then I took out the bag with the Olcott Christmas ornament that I got, and put it somewhere safe. I haven't quite dared to look and see if it got broken in transit yet, I will tonight.

I went through the accumulated mail, which someone, RK I assume, had brought in, nothing important. Except that the Old Guard graphic novel I ordered had arrived. So I took that to the bedroom and read it.

While I was laying in bed I started a Shipt order on my phone, and after I finished the graphic novel I came out and finished the Shipt order on the laptop.

And just as I typed the above lines, I got an email from the FWiB saying he was free and could Team, so we did. Very nice. But to continue what I was saying.

I waited for the Shipt order, and played Bookworm. Got up to level 14, pretty good. Just when I finished, my alarm went off and it was time to call Middle Brother. He is fine, nothing t0 report.

That was when I noticed the problem with the turtle tank. I called mashfanficchick and she said to call RK and tell him, cause there was no way the two of us could fix it on our own. But we did make plans for seeing each other tomorrow.

I called RK, and told him, and he's coming over tomorrow after work to do something which will probably require emptying the tank, moving it, and refilling it.

So I had dinner, and went and lay down and played solitaire, til pet feeding time, when I gave Oreo fresh water (cause he still has food leftover in his bowl from while I was away) and fed the turtle.

And then I started here, and then Teamed the FWiB, as I said.

So my vacation is over and I am home.

Gratitude List:

1. The FWiB.

2. RK.

3. mashfanficchick

4. My pets are fine.

5. My mail was safely inside.

6. Home safely.