There is no officially sanctioned Bob Spelled Backwards vacation event scheduled this summer. So I invented one. Sort of. Let me clarify. One of the reasons we aren't having our mostly annual Bob beach trip to Sunset Beach this year is because Reuben decided to move to LA, from New York, that week. So I found myself with a block of approved vacation time and no plans. So I invited myself along on Reub's move. And I decided to begin starting way too many sentences with the word "so". So yesterday morning I drove from San Diego to Los Angeles, Got lost on Santa Monica Blvd, and eventually found my way to Reuben's apartment to be. Once I got there I knocked on the door of the superintendent, Simon, a personable old Russian guy. By this time, I was extremely pressed for time, because all my built in cushion had been used up while I was failing to find the right road to turn on to get to the apartment. My instructions from Reuben, and our plan, was that I would leave my car in his new parking spot, get his keys from the super, and leave some stuff of mine in his new place. Unfortunately, somewhere between Reuben, The landlord, the property manager, and the super, that plan had failed to be communicated. Simon was somewhat expecting me, but hadn't received any instructions from the landlord/manager, so he didn't feel authorized to give me Reub's keys, let me into his apartment, or let me park in his space. So an entire two week trip, meticulously planned out, was hinging on this one guy feeling comfortable. I was out of time, I didn't have time to drive to the airport and find parking and negotiate long term rates, and I had a cab waiting to drop me off there. I told Simon that I was kind of locked into this plan and I was just going to have to leave my car there and tell him to just have it towed if that's what needed to happen, and I'd deal with it when we arrived. Don't get me wrong, Simon is a super nice guy, he was just in a pickle. And so was I. So he called the landlord, no answer, and he called the manager, no answer. Reuben had said as much when I'd ask him to call them as well. But Simon was persistent. He called each of them, back to back, 3 times, until the landlord finally answered. Simon gave the landlord a brief explanation of what was going on, and asked me to speak with him, which I did. The landlord gave the OK, and the plan was a go. Simon was still uncomfortable with giving me Reuben's keys, but at that point I was content to cut my losses and just get going while I could still catch my flight. So I headed off in the cab.
About that cab...
When I first arrived at the complex, I parked in an available space because I thought that Reuben's space was occupied. After getting out of the car and looking closer, I realized that was not the case, so I got back in the car and backed out of the space I was in so I could park in the proper spot. At the time I was on the phone with Reuben, breaking the cellphone while driving law California has. Suddenly, my backward progress was impeded. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a wash of yellow. There was a taxi there. Apparently he'd pulled up to drop someone off across the street. I finished parking, got off the phone with Reuben, and walked over there. The driver was looking concerned, and examining a scrape on his front bumper. I apologized. He started saying it was no big deal and was ready to dismiss the whole thing, which surprised me, but maybe since he was double parked (essentially in the middle of the street) he was worried that he might also be in the wrong, and his job might be in jeopardy as a result. At this point, I said, "Actually, I need a ride to the airport, if you're available". He perked up and said sure. Needless to say, I gave him a big tip.
On the plane I sat next to this really nice couple of folks. They were seemingly very intelligent, clever and kind. This was a stark contrast to the people that were sitting behind us. For most of the trip, I was rocking out my bran new noise canceling headphones. But towards the end, with my movie over and my ears sore from the headphones, I took them off. At this point I was introduced to what had been going on for the whole flight behind us. There was a 20 year old girl, who managed to convince me of her idiocy in remarkably few sentences, getting hit on by a slurringly drunk guy, successfully. The very witty couple next to me had been laughing and/or gagging over what they'd been hearing for some time now. At first I thought it was a travesty that this cute young girl was actually entertaining the flirtations of this coarse, slurring oaf. But, after hearing her speak for a while, I decided they deserved each other. Perhaps I'm just too cynical. Ah well.
Once in New York, the cab hailed me. I stepped out into the cab area, and a dude walked up to me and asked if I needed a cab and I said sure. I know, noob NY move. I realized my mistake when he lead me to the parking lot instead of the cab area, and invited me into his sedan which was completely stock except for some door magnets advertising his cab services. I went with him anyway. It sounded like an adventure. Perhaps I am foolish. He got me to Reuben's apartment with haste. He did over-charge, but not enough to cry over. Disaster averted.
Now I'm in NYC for the next 3 days or so, until Tuesday morning when Reub and I climb into his new car (which just arrived right now, actually) and head out on the road from here to LA. We still are debating various routes and methods, including the entirety of Route 66, Possibly visiting Mike in Colorado, or various other options. With it still being insufferably hot in NY, and Reub's apartment not being Air conditioned, I'm ready to go right now. But, when will I be in NYC again? I should have a look around a bit while I'm here.
More episodes to follow. And, oh yeah, I'm updating the blog again. :)
Pics from Reub's apartment:
