manhattan and back

last night i joined in an enjoyable and somewhat surreal trip to nyc. shiny white limo, dinner in the surprisingly pleasant capriani dolci in grand central station, VisionIntoArt's "A Tough Line" in the lobby of the Whitney/Altria building across the street, dozens of attractive 20-somethings not really moving or being moved by the terrorist event. an interesting piece, though, as i commented to the tall and cord-clad animator -- the aesthetic distance created by the large and graceful ensemble spoke to the production's root in the compositions. the tone testified to the positions of its young and intelligent creators, poetic images of sundered and traumatized families as though sundered and traumatized families were something they had once heard of. which is probably true.

when we got back to philly i hopped in a cab ("where to, sweetheart?"). the cabbie asked how my day was. i mentioned the limo. he asked if i was in the limo with my boyfriend.

a: no, my boyfriend...was...elsewhere. this was for my work, actually.
cabbie: are you going home to your boyfriend?
a: no, i have three housemates.
cabbie: husbands?
a: no, housemates. i have three roommates.
cabbie: ah, roommates. where is your boyfriend?
a: he's...in...new york.
cabbie: so you see him when you go to new york?
a: sometimes, when i'm not with my work.
cabbie: so how does that work, your boyfriend being in new york?
a: (pause) it's a bit tricky.
cabbie: you should find a boyfriend in philadelphia.
a: well, i'll worry about it when it's time.

at the intersection outside my house, he looked at the 4.50 meter and said, "450 dollars."

a: i'm a bit short (handing him a ten).
cabbie: ah, 1000 dollars.
a: i'll just take 3 back.
cabbie: 300 dollars (returning change with some ceremony). find a boyfriend in philadelphia.
a: thanks for the advice.