I had a moment when I felt like a true New Yorker yesterday.
I finished an old novel by Lawrence Block called, "A Stab in the Dark." It was a juicy little murder mystery that took place in both Manhattan and Brooklyn. As I read the book on the train, I could visualize every location in the book- from Midtown to the streets of Cobble and Boerum Hills. I knew every intersection and almost every building mentioned. At the same time, the book evoked a New York City completely unknown to me. My imagination was stirred by grittier streets where the boutiques of today were replaced by bodegas and the trees on the sidewalks had not yet been planted.
I wonder if, years from now, I will think back on my time here and falsely remember the gentrification of these neighborhoods and think back to the good old days of New York that I never lived except through dime store novels.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
We were young. We needed the money.
It all started in 2005. Kitty and I had been married a little over a year. We were living in Denver while I sang a contract with Opera Colorado. The money was good, but we were still a little short on cash.
Keep in mind, this was before the Greatest Depression that we now live in. Denver was awash with money. There was real estate, arts funding, excessive consumption at Cherry Creek and, most importantly, medical research grants.
After I had finished my contracts, Kitty and I found ourselves very under employed and we were gearing up for a move to New York City. How do you get money quickly?
Kitty's brother, "Dr. Navy", a medical student at the time, found a drug study. We would stay in the hospital for a week, all meals provided, potentially be injected with a "very safe drug" and have our vitals and blood done on a regular basis. Successful completion would mean a thousand bucks each. Initially, we were skeptical but Dr. Navy assured us that the drug was safe and, after all, he was getting married the week after the hospital stay. Would he "really" do it if it wasn't safe?
I initially thought that this would be like a free week at a "all-inclusive." We would have free food and drink and we'd hang out, I'd bring some video games and dvds and relax. Sure, we'd be giving blood every four hours (24 hours a day) but how is that different from recovering from the toxic shock of unlimited drinking at Hedonism?
Well, there are certain differences. For one, we couldn't have caffeine. As you know, Kitty and I met in Seattle and fell in love in the Met Park East Starbucks. The cement that holds the foundation of our relationship together is morning coffee. Second, we couldn't drink alcohol either. I wouldn't compare that to the foundation of our relationship. It's more like a really cool chandelier that you have in your house and you have to have sent away to be repaired. The house loses a bit of light and a little class but is mostly untouched while it is away.
Despite these reservations, we discovered that we would be put up in the new wing of the hospital and provided food from the new chef who took over the commissary. The food wasn't amazing, but it was plentiful and satisfying. We could also order up their 5-star desserts and cookies at breakfast time if we wanted.
After a week of being pampered and only one disturbing incident involving Kitty and a doctor taking blood from her carotid artery because they couldn't find a vein, we walked away with enough money to fund the move to NYC.
So what does all that have to do with New York City? Kitty and I have found that there are little opportunities like this all over. Case in point: Kitty is part of a weekly breastfeeding group in our neighborhood. It is a wonderful support provided by the City government in "at risk" neighborhoods like ours and is provided at no cost. Last week, it was announced that the City was preparing to update their breastfeeding brochures. They were having a photo shoot and moms and babies could come and receive $150 if they participated in the shoot. Husbands and partners could come too and receive their own $150.
Sure enough, we rose to the challenge. We arrived at 9 a.m. with The Peanut in tow. Coffee and pastries were provided and they staged numerous shots of Kitty and The Peanut nursing in various positions. The Peanut cooperated like a champ and the two of them managed to get pictures taken in all four "official positions" and I joined in for some family pictures. Everyone joked that The Peanut was a natural actress following stage directions... only natural for the child of an opera singer! I only hope that it will last through her teenage years.
As it turns out, if they use our pictures we will receive an additional $500. (Perhaps each... we couldn't decipher the contract). Keep your fingers crossed for us!
Keep in mind, this was before the Greatest Depression that we now live in. Denver was awash with money. There was real estate, arts funding, excessive consumption at Cherry Creek and, most importantly, medical research grants.
After I had finished my contracts, Kitty and I found ourselves very under employed and we were gearing up for a move to New York City. How do you get money quickly?
Kitty's brother, "Dr. Navy", a medical student at the time, found a drug study. We would stay in the hospital for a week, all meals provided, potentially be injected with a "very safe drug" and have our vitals and blood done on a regular basis. Successful completion would mean a thousand bucks each. Initially, we were skeptical but Dr. Navy assured us that the drug was safe and, after all, he was getting married the week after the hospital stay. Would he "really" do it if it wasn't safe?
I initially thought that this would be like a free week at a "all-inclusive." We would have free food and drink and we'd hang out, I'd bring some video games and dvds and relax. Sure, we'd be giving blood every four hours (24 hours a day) but how is that different from recovering from the toxic shock of unlimited drinking at Hedonism?
Well, there are certain differences. For one, we couldn't have caffeine. As you know, Kitty and I met in Seattle and fell in love in the Met Park East Starbucks. The cement that holds the foundation of our relationship together is morning coffee. Second, we couldn't drink alcohol either. I wouldn't compare that to the foundation of our relationship. It's more like a really cool chandelier that you have in your house and you have to have sent away to be repaired. The house loses a bit of light and a little class but is mostly untouched while it is away.
Despite these reservations, we discovered that we would be put up in the new wing of the hospital and provided food from the new chef who took over the commissary. The food wasn't amazing, but it was plentiful and satisfying. We could also order up their 5-star desserts and cookies at breakfast time if we wanted.
After a week of being pampered and only one disturbing incident involving Kitty and a doctor taking blood from her carotid artery because they couldn't find a vein, we walked away with enough money to fund the move to NYC.
So what does all that have to do with New York City? Kitty and I have found that there are little opportunities like this all over. Case in point: Kitty is part of a weekly breastfeeding group in our neighborhood. It is a wonderful support provided by the City government in "at risk" neighborhoods like ours and is provided at no cost. Last week, it was announced that the City was preparing to update their breastfeeding brochures. They were having a photo shoot and moms and babies could come and receive $150 if they participated in the shoot. Husbands and partners could come too and receive their own $150.
Sure enough, we rose to the challenge. We arrived at 9 a.m. with The Peanut in tow. Coffee and pastries were provided and they staged numerous shots of Kitty and The Peanut nursing in various positions. The Peanut cooperated like a champ and the two of them managed to get pictures taken in all four "official positions" and I joined in for some family pictures. Everyone joked that The Peanut was a natural actress following stage directions... only natural for the child of an opera singer! I only hope that it will last through her teenage years.
As it turns out, if they use our pictures we will receive an additional $500. (Perhaps each... we couldn't decipher the contract). Keep your fingers crossed for us!
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