Ahhhhh....
Well, I'm better now. Back in to the groove here, and plowing through 2010 with more steam in the boiler than a pressure cooker left on high. The goal: Find a new job that puts my programming skills back to the forefront. The current one just ain't cutting it and I need something more. Put my brain to work again, because currently I'm turning into a zombie.
So next up: Let's talk about Japan. It was a great trip, so many stories to tell! I'll start this off with the story of Andrew's laptop aka The Laptop Incident.
Before leaving for Japan, Andrew asked me to pick him up a new laptop. No problem. Except that the week I tried to go shopping was the week of CES in Vegas, where all the new models are unveiled and all the sellers are clearing their shelves for the new ones: slim pickin's. After about my 4th trip to different places, I settled on a nice Vaio laptop, which had the best rankings for laptops in its class. (Despite most of Sony's stuff being crappy, my Vaio laptop, Marlow, has held up well for me for the past 2 and half years). It came in a nice box, and so I put the nice box in a nice bag.
Our flight to Japan was a straight shot from JFK to Narita. For us, that means hopping on the L train two blocks away, switching it up to the super ghetto A, then the AirTran to the airport. And so we set out around 8:15 in the morning: two huge suitcases and the laptop bag. Reiko's bag in particular was a huge pain in the ass as its wheels only move one way, and that's the wrong way, and there's no easy grip handle to pull the thing, so I basically ended up doing a combination of a lift-pull-skate and straddling myself over the top of it while walking to get it to move.
That suitcase was quickly deemed that Japan would be its final destination. I hope it burns in a large garbage heap.
At the L train station: hundreds of people. Five times the normal amount. Which made sense: due to a police incident down the line, trains were running only every 15~ 20 minutes, as opposed to the normal 3-4 minutes during rush hour. It took a while, but the train finally came. More pains in the ass as large ass suitcases, one of them which didn't really roll, were not designed for the morning commute. Fortunately, we were headed opposite of the city, so it wasn't so bad.
We boarded the train. My mind was a blur from the people, the excitement, the Japan.
We took off. We're moving now. Reiko took a seat and I stood with the luggage.
Then, it dawned on me: I was no longer in possession of the laptop bag. Nor was Reiko.
Somewhere between our apartment and the train, the laptop went missing. A brand new, in-box laptop. Which I bought! AND IT WAS LOST IN BUSHWICK.
I ran out of the train at the Myrtle / Wyckoff stop (2 stops from our place) and told Reiko to wait for me at Broadway Junction aka poverty ghetto central. Poor Reiko. Still not sure where to go or what to do, I figured I'd hop on the opposite, city bound train, go back to start and figure it out from there.
And then I realized: oh yeah, trains aren't running normal today. You have no choice. Better get running.
I don't think I've ever had a more panicked run. Or such an unexpected cold-start sprint. Which was not easy as I was not really in any shape to run with my massive coat and a backpack loaded to the gills. But I didn't have a choice. Time was running out - I wasn't going to miss my flight - and I just HAD to find that laptop.
Sprinting from a cold start: I highly don't recommend it. The massive shot of adrenaline in my system gave me quite a boost but after about 4 or 5 blocks I was already choking. The rest of the way back home (13 blocks) was a combo of run a block or two, catch my breath, rinse and repeat. Though most of the run was also a blur, I remember running past police at one point that I was just sure were going to come and stop me, ask me what was going on. But they didn't.
During my run, I was able to trace my steps: I knew where the package was left. It was on the front stoop of our apartment. Out in the open. I had set it to the side to help Reiko with her luggage. And completely forgot it there. So at least it was not in a station or anything, where it surely would be long gone.
I rounded the corner, and it was there. Untouched. Though: the shady fat guy two doors down was already eyeing it. I didn't say anything, just ran and swooped it up, then ran back to the subway station.
Inside, I fell apart. I tore off my jacket and long sleeves and took a knee. My heart was pounding, my lungs were on fire and I could taste blood in my mouth. I was coughing up massive amounts of gooey phlegm. I had just punished the shit out of my body and put it to its limits. But whatever, I had the lap top back.
Eventually, the train came, and I met Reiko at ghetto central. We had to wait three A trains for the right one that goes to the airport, but made it with plenty of time. Reiko was rightfully pissed at me for making her wait and I felt pretty bad about it. But soon that would all be behind us, as we were about to hop on the big bird. To Japan.
