As the post-storm clean up continues, different aspects emerge. The first thing I noticed during my morning walk is the garbage piled up at curbs. People have been throwing out water-logged stuff from their basements, including furniture. That musty smell is prevalent. On our street, East 13th between Avenues Y & Z, there is an oddity, a side street about three feet below street level in the middle of the block, Margaret Court. At that point, the entire sidewalk is blocked with Hefty bags full of debris. Stop n Shop and CVS have still not reopened. We don't have heat in our complex, but at least we now have semi-hot water. My Cablevision box has stopped flashing, but the picture is just snow. Overall, small potatoes compared to what some folks are suffering.
It was no surprise to hear that NYC's nanny-in-chief, Michael Bloomberg, has endorsed Barrack Obama for President, citing Global Warming as the reason. As absurd as that is, it makes sense. Although MB is listed as a Republican, he is so only as an opportunist. He is a dyed in the wool liberal in lock step with everything O is. Both should read the op-ed piece in today's NY Post by Ben Garrett: Don't Blame Sandy on Global Warming. He cites the mid to late '50's as the period with the most major storms, along with other interesting facts.
Since Sheepshead Bay is still a big mess, I decided to re-open the floating book shop on Bay Parkway and 85th, where any evidence of a storm is gone. I expected people to be too preoccupied to buy books, but that wasn't the case. I had four customers purchase in bulk, almost covering my entire outlays for the day: gyro lunch, stock up at CVS on 86th Street, and two L&B squares. Thanks, folks, especially to the young woman who purchased January Valentine's Sweet Dreams. She was on her way to work in Staten Island, which figured to be an excruciatingly long bus ride, and needed something to read. While I was there, Yon, an employee of Chase, came outside for a smoke break. He lives on the border between Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach. He sent his family to relatives and stayed behind to protect his property, knife and flashlight in hand, small dog that barks loudly at his side behind locked doors. He saw looters all night. Fortunately, he didn't have to defend himself. On my way home, traffic was backed up as I approached the spot where Stillwell, McDonald and Avenue X meet. There were long lines of cars and pedestrians, cans at their feet, waiting to buy gas. I have half a tank and don't plan to drive more than a few miles during each of the next two days. I just heard a radio report that the ports are open and accepting delivery of fuel.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
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