Where do I start? I guess from the beginning. I crawled out of bed to find out that even though school started two hours later, I only had “an hour grace period” to be at work. Good thing I left home at 9:19 and I had to be at work before 10:19 to make the grace period. Did I mention that I had to walk from the east side to the west side and all the 58 blocks plus avenues in-between? Luckily, my little sister joined me. Thank G-d. We made it into work just before 11am after power walking the stretch from 86th down.

When I reached work I found out that I had to do all this stuff in my room which meant walking around on my scrawny, out of shape little legs. I put up the “word wall” and my sister “leveled” the library and what nonsense. I can’t believe I got any work done. I had to “teach” English 9th period (the last period of the day) and the seniors were really rowdy. I actually had to write one up for behavior and one of the deans basically said he was going to ignore it despite the threats, racial slurs against other students and yada yada the kid uttered. What’s the point of coming into school to be an *SS? There were about twenty students present.

I survived the school day and had to get back home and we also had plans for King Kong. I know, really pushing it. Not only do we have to walk up 58 blocks but we’re going to go see a film afterwards. We walked slowly which was probably really stupid. My hips hurt, my legs hurt, my thighs hurt. We made stops along the way to purchase earrings (mine all died in the kitty litter incident of November), purchase boots (because I walked in my thermal snow boots which are going to become useless soon in the snow) and underwear (because, look I don’t have to explain this one). I’m not sure what was more painful, the dent to my budget or the pain in my legs. I’d say both. Knowing that people will be judgmental, I have plenty of explanations for all purchases and um, I’m returning some of the earrings, okay?

We left my job around 3:35pm but didn’t make it uptown until around 7pm. Yes, we made it to the 7:10pm showing of King Kong at the Magic Johnson theater. Can I say that the film was fantastic? Possibly one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Literally heart-wrenching, I felt like my heart was being torn from my chest. I laughed rarely, my eyes teared up and at the end I sat stunned in silence. I’d see it again but I could have a heart attack or a suicidal episode. That good.

Finally, home. I had sushi for dinner but I wish I’d had ice…all over my legs. I have to figure out how I’m going to make it up to Washington Heights for Shabbat. I asked my coworker to drive me up but will my bosses let me leave early for Shabbat given the transit strike. I honestly don’t see it ending before the holidays begin. Boy, this blog is going to get interesting.