Comments on: Blogging the Big Event

By: Citizen of the Month » Message from Time Magazine

Citizen of the Month » Message from Time Magazine — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:55:58 +0000

[...] A Year Ago on Citizen of the Month: Blogging the Big Event [...]

By: Uncle Miltie

Uncle Miltie — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 09:46:32 +0000

I had been in San Fran about a year in 1989 when the earthquake hit. I was sitting in my office an old building that survived the ‘06 quake when the phone rang. It was an Israeli client who owed me $100.00 for around two years. He called out of the blue from Milan to say he was actually sending the check. We hung up and the building started shaking. I’m from NY, so I thought it was God letting me know he was as amazed as I was. Carolyn came in and dragged me to the doorway. “Earthquake!” Then we had to walk up ten floors to our apartment for the next week. W 67th to W 76th is at least flat, but NY without public transit…not where I’d want to be.

By: Uncle Miltie

Uncle Miltie — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 09:24:10 +0000

Neil, Sophia and Elaine
Have a Happy Chanukah. I hope I won’t be Plan B too soon. I can’t type, but I’ll start learning as soon as I get the cast off my wrist. I haven’t been able to get my voice recognition program to understand what has been called my strong NY accent. (I don’t think I have an accent.) We spent Christmas Eve as usual at our “Church of the Chinese restaurant” and everyone around us was Jewish. “Oh, are you Jewish, we’re Jewish, too!” Next table: “Hey we’re Jewish too.” Everyone was so happy. We had been trying to see who was going to take the last shrimp, couldn’t see very well and ended up talking to the people who wondered why we were watching them eat. I gave Carolyn the last shrimp. She didn’t want it, but I made her eat it because I didn’t want it either. Get better soon so you can send Elaine up to San Fran to take care of us and our cats. We took an informal survey in our neighborhood after reading your blog and noticing that the three Arab delis in the next block had Xmas lights up. They hold Moslem services there daily, so we asked why the lights. “It’s Christmas.” “But you’re not Christian….” “It’s ok, it’s Christmas.” Ok. The Indian 7-11 was also wishing people Merry Christmas. “You’re not Christian…” “It’s ok, it’s America, and it’s Christmas.” I wanted to tell Artie about it. I miss him.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:24:42 +0000

I feel rather negligent for living in San Francisco without having written a pre-packaged earthquake post…

By: el Jacek

el Jacek — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 04:11:55 +0000

Ok, so I’m here for the transit strike (godda love the pink bunny on the bridge, the mayor of bklyn saying at the bklyn bridge “everything is ok, you’re back in Brooklyn now” or how at the end of the Williamsburg bridge they were giving out free coffee and hot coca), I was here for the blackout (that was kinda fun) thought trooping it to theh north Bronx kinda sucked, but one thing that I am glad I was not here for was 9/11. I would have helped, but dammit, if I was to have been here, I would have been on the 86th fl. of the WTC, and that could have very likely ended my life. Good thing I was lazy after college and wanted to bum around Europe instead of going into ibanking.

Cheers, and oh… like the blog.

- el Jacek

By: Leesa

Leesa — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:53:26 +0000

Very funny, Neil. I loved the discussion with your Mom. I would have that same discussion with my husband. Love it

By: mcaryeh

mcaryeh — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:06:19 +0000

I did not blog about the transit strike, but then I also have the flu and avoided the city altogether. Uncle Milton sounds like a safe bet…

By: ngregory00

ngregory00 — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 02:08:30 +0000

I’m jealous of New Yorkers for still being NEW YORKERS. I left three years ago and now I’m fiending to return, even with the transit strike in effect.

And I agree on the “wish I were there” sentiment. There is something significant to having been there during 9/11. Unforgettable day.

By: claire

claire — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:45:15 +0000

I would have the same issues if my mom was plan B. Still, way to keep on top, Neil! ;]

By: pia

pia — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:51:11 +0000

I couldn’t work in my Starbucks today, too many people working there already

Neil you’re so right about West 76th Street to 67th Street; it’s just so difficult–not even half mile.

The only positive on my list to stay in NY besides my friends is “what if a terrorist attack occurs and I’m not there,” or “another transit strike,” or god forbid, I should miss a blackout–last one I was in Brighton Beach Brooklyn, of all places, 9 and half hours to the Upper West Side

Really though I hate this strike; businesses downtown are going to close for good, the economy’s going to be horrible again. We just really begun to recover from 9/11.

I the grandaughter of a Socialist union organizer am saying that a union is holding a city hostage

gawd, next I’ll say I’m grateful to George Bush for something–never