July 8, 2011
As I wrote yesterday, my family’s in town for my niece Casie’s wedding in Brooklyn this Saturday. I have a long weekend off from work and here’s a few snapshots of my travelings to Brooklyn.
And we're off, we're taking the R train to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Looks like it rained today. I missed it, that's what happens when you sleep until three in the afternoon. But to my credit, I was up drinking beer and watching movies until six in the morning after my horrible night of work.
Bongo drums in Union Square Park.
Oh my god, check it out...
Someone actually reading a book and not texting or yammering away on a cell phone. Amazing!
And it's down into the bowels of the subway we go. It'll be nice to get out of this brightness.
Geez, look at the crowd. This is why I hate traveling around in "normal people hours."
At least there's not a long wait, here's the train. All aboard!
The car is crowded, but I managed to snag a seat.
Check out the Justin Bieber look-a-like. Do you know I've never heard a Justin Bieber song? And I may just keep it that way.
This guy's hypnotized by his cell phone.
So's this guy. Zombie meet Zombie. Ugh.
And through the magic of the internet you're spared a 47 minute ride to Bay Ridge watching people stare at cell phones and other texting devices.
And here's my mom and dad and my brother Tom, who's the father of the bride. Later we met my sister Terry, my brother-in-law Phil and Greg and Mary Beth, my nephew and niece. But I didn't bring my camera, so you'll have to take my word for it. You'll be seeing pictures of them in the next few days.
I took a car service back to Manhattan.
A shot of the Manhattan skyline as I head homeward bound. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
New York Memories
I mentioned in yesterday’s post that today was my 18th anniversary of moving to New York and for the next couple of days while documenting my nieces upcoming wedding in Brooklyn, I thought I’d write some New York memories of when I first moved out here.
At the time I decided to move to New York, it was kind of a crazy thing to do. I found out I could cash in my pension plan from my job I had worked in Peoria, Illinois for 13 years and get over twenty thousand bucks which would help me get to New York City and live on freelance writing fees until I found a full time writing gig or a night time job. So I decided to say, “Fuck it,” and I cashed out my retirement fund and moved out here. The first persons I told of this madcap plan were my parents.
I was afraid they would think I was nuts and wanted to break the news to them first. I remember having dinner with them on a Wednesday evening, don’t ask me why I remember that it was a Wednesday, I just do, I’m weird that way. After dinner I told them I had cashed in my pension plan and was going to move to New York City and try to find a place for myself as a writer. After a brief pause my mom said, “Well if you don’t do it now, you may regret it years later.” My dad chimed in with, “And if things don’t work out, you can always move back here and start all over.” I have the coolest parents in the world and I always wonder why an asshole like me got lucky enough to have them. Thanks, Mom and Dad. You’re the best parents ever. It was nice to hang out with them in Brooklyn. More pictures tomorrow.
Further reading: Wikipedia, About.com, and Family In New York.
You might also like: Charlie Brown, Murphy Brown and The Half Empty Glass.
Four Online Articles About Brooklyn Decker
IMDb
Heavy
Huffington Post
Business Insider
As I stood by my window,
And looked out on those,
Brooklyn roads.
21 Comments
Reader Comments (21)
I have awesome parents too - I hope my kids feel that way about me when they are older. Most likely they'll refer to me as the Crazy Lady that Dad puts up with.
You aren't missing anything by not knowing Beiber songs...I unfortunately have heard several.
Great story and I always love it when your parents are in town. I look forward to seeing pictures of the wedding!
Hi, Mom and Pop Wombacher! And Brother Tom, too! Hey, Marty, I'll bet you were a happy baby, baby, baby.
xo, The Biebster
Brooklyn Decker is beautiful and I feel dumb but this is the first time Ive ever heard of her. She kinda looks like Sybil Sheppard circa "The Heartbreak Kid" an all time favorite movie. I never heard any songs from Bieber and I dont feel too bad about that either. Same goes for most new music for teens which is just computer synch with a little dubbing,,,,sad state but kids like it. I have heard Lady Gaga Poker Face because my niece played it and I wanted to be nice. Great parents, always happy to see them here, feel like I know them. Neil Diamond is Brooklyn raised from Flatbush and still proudly carries the accent.
@Britta: It figures you and Kari have cool parents too. I almost went on YouTube to listen to JB but then wisely decided not to.
@Barfly: Wedding pictures will be up Sunday!
@Biff: I'll tell everyone you send your regards. I'm guessing the "happy baby" reference is a JB song, but the only JB I know is Jim Beam.
@Al: You're back! "The Heartbreak Kid" is a great movie and I'm going to go put it in my Netflix queue right now!
Congratulations to your niece Casie and her man...all the best in the years to come...good to see that people in Brooklyn have a sense of humor about their unique way of talking in your surprise link. Minnesotans don't, let me tell ya. They really like making fun of the way people from other parts of the country talk, but then the Cohen brothers came out with the movie 'Fargo' and I had a great time looking around at the audience and watching all the pinched and sullen looks on all those smug Minnesota faces ( I was transplanted here in Minnesota from Peoria at the age of twelve). When that movie came out the little caveman in me was capering with glee at the thought of all those Minnesotans getting a taste of their own medicine. Ha!
Wow, are your parents cool with maybe adopting an adult daughter?? :)
I hope they have a good time in NYC - they've got a great tour guide.
@Jaws: I always forget that you're from Peoria too!
@Goggla: I'll ask them tonight! Maybe I should take them to Mars Bar when they get into the city! Okay, I'm off to Brooklyn!
@Marty - please bring them to Mars...we'll make them a cake and put on a show. They may need to bring their own chairs and wine glasses, though. And toilet seat...
great to see mom dad and brother tom lookin' good...glad MAD was not on that line where the woman was bathin'...ah google it...hope if/when MAD takes the folks to MARS bar that L.E.S. Jewels isn't practicin' how to drive the nail...
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.
~Author Unknown
rr
here it is...i wasn't hallucinatin' after 10 "rutgut 45's...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lj4vTKYToM...
rr
p.s. not sure if "boris" was in on this...
Hi Marty. Hey, you're in my old stomping ground, Bay Ridge. I grew up there but moved to NJ in the late 80's. If it was 25 years ago I could've directed you to lots of bars you'd love, but most of them are now either gone upscale or become grocery stores.
Hello from Vegas! I'm looking at the New York New York hotel from my room. Not really the same, but you know. Hope the wedding goes well and you have fun hanging out with the fam. Britta does have pretty nice parents. And I've never heard a Bieber song either, and hope to keep it that way for some time.
Is that a Brooklyn Double-Decker?
@Goggla: I don't know if my parents can handle Mars, but I might be bringing some of my brothers friends Monday afternoon.
@Ken: Yes, sadly all the good places are gone or upscaled to something else.
@rr: Love that quote! And the Sonic clip is a classic! Thanks!
@kari: What are you doing in Las Vegas? Is it your vacation? Have fun and if you win at the tables or slot machines, share the wealth!
@Uncle Waltie: I would say it is! Sip ahoy!
New York's subway needs more Love Police Agents !! "Ladies and Gentleman This is the Love Police, please stop texting Justin Bieber coz he can't read anyway, and Stop reading those Free Propaganda Newspapers, you're allowed to look at each other and to smile! If you do not feel comfortable, just repeat the 3 words of Freedom: Trust, Fear, Obey!" (This was a message from Agent Z, The Love Police, Toulouse France!)
Hahahaha !!!!!
@Zioum Zioum: Ha! Good advice!
I was in Vegas to meet another dooce community member who was there for work. I made 2 bets and won $60 so I consider that success! And just about enough to cover my gas getting there. Everything evens out in the end.
@kari: I'd say winning 60 bucks is a success too! Cool you met another Dooce member, hope you had a great time in Vegas!
Hey Marty, sorry for not comment much on the blog, but I keep reading every day!
I'm quite late for this post, but I understand about moving. Last week I received an admission letter for study in Germany. And I accepted. Now I'm running to quit my job, sell my car and save all money I can to go there for at least two years. My parents were very supportive with me to do this crazy thing! It's one of the best feeling I've had!
Congrats for you!!!!
@Gui Stecher: Wow, that's great Gui! Keep in touch and let us know how it goes! Good luck in Germany, my friend.