On My Last Day As A New York City Resident

(Originally Oct 1 2005)

...I nearly bumped into Phillip Seymour Hoffman. If you hadn't heard of him, you soon will. His movie "Capote" has opened today admist rave reviews. I doubt I'll ever see it. But at least I know where the star of it actually lives. Yeh, I was mulling and lurking as usual today, delaying my return home after researching an apartment for a call-in client (who wants a no-fee, 2-bedroom apartment for under $1600 in Manhattan, and doesn't want to rent anywhere in Harlem. What a shame. I just made a presentation today for crazy mad cool apartment with a BACKYARD in East Harlem this morning. Go check it out.) Anyway I got off the sbway near my usual haunts (back when I was a Starbucker), and wandered a little while, and from around the corner came Mr. Hoffman--looking as normal, regular, and splotchy as any pale unattractive New York white guy can look. He was, in fact, so underimpressive that I almost said something to him, but he ducked his head slightly and I read that to mean, "Yes, I am, but please, I just want to go home right now." And then I turned around, and into the building he went, and in greeting his doorman, went upstairs.

Isn't that just crazy? Maybe it really IS crazy. Maybe I'm just hallucinating because I'm insane with grief at having to leave New York. Strangely, though, my eviction notice hasn't arrived yet. I technically do not have to leave until the Marshall -- Sheriffs-- somebody tells me to leave. On another bizarre note, the Marshall's note that I DID recieve today informed me that my car was sold on the auction block. The sale thereof went to pay tickets, and the letter was for me to call them to see if I have any refund coming to me. I assure you, I do not have any refunds. In fact, I'm sure I still owe money, and that the sale of the car didn't cover half of it.

RIP my car. Hard to believe that this city took my car and is kicking me out on top of it...and that I still want to live here.

Word to the wise--NYC is no place to be if you have no money. Or, if you are an idiot. Or if you're me.

But it's great for stargazing.