All Over The Place

I have an account with a company that provides food delivery from a variety of restaurants from just about anywhere in NYC. Just for kicks, I entered the zip code for where I’m staying here in Florida to configure for a new delivery area. The website notified me the company doesn’t deliver yet to this part of the United States.

So, I tried looking up restaurants close to me that deliver. The old way. Not too much outside of pizza. I did find a pita place just around the corner (maybe a mile away) and I ordered from them. They were pretty good. Their ingredients are fresh, and they brought my food pretty quickly. Nice people.

It’s just another difference.

I only bring this up because I haven’t owned a vehicle in over five years. I keep a valid drivers license just in case. I want to get to where I don’t have to drive anywhere to get food. Or get to work. Or go have fun.  I know it’s asking too much, living in these parts.  Maybe I’m asking not to live in these parts anymore. Friends and family have been especially generous and understanding, but I need to be independent again already.

I’m going to have to make do.

A rooster crowed.

It was 6:30. The sun barely peeked over the horizon, silhouetting the surrounding trees. The trees surrounded the apartments, which formed the perimeter of the parking lot.

When was the last time she heard a rooster? Had it been years? She knew urban sounds very well: horns honking, traffic gridlocked, constant chatter, jackhammers. But she also knew the country, because that’s where she grew up.

A second one crowed.

She was about to think Peter was around, about to utter his third denial.

She couldn’t believe she was back in her hometown after so many years. She’d loved and lost; she gained and lost; she lived, and lost. Her return admitted defeat.

She swore to herself she’d never move back; but she justified it with saying it was only temporary. She wasn’t settling. She was going to get back on her feet, then take off for the next big thing. It didn’t even really have to be all that big. She just needed the slightest excuse.

It was getting light outside.

She just had to get out of there.

Ever since I moved back to Jacksonville three weeks ago, I couldn’t help feeling less connected to this town. First of all, I live in the suburbs, which almost everyone does around here. Everyone drives everywhere, as all destinations sprawl across miles of open, flat land.

I’m used to taking mass transit for commuting. Now I drive a borrowed car, and I’m nowhere near the bus. I’m used to hearing and seeing masses of people. I’m “lucky” if I hear the upstairs neighbor stir during the day. I’m used to having something to do every night, people to hang out with. I do have a roommate, and we’re really good friends, but I fear she’s tiring quickly of me.

One of the biggest things I miss is the live music that passes through. Every performer dreams of standing in front of a crowd in New York City. (Though sometimes they stand in front of no crowd at all.) Almost every big name got its start there; that where we find and love all the little ones.

In the past year and a half, I have been able to see:

August 2008 – Mates of State, New Pornographers, Andrew Bird, Radiohead; Liberty State Park
September 2008 – Dar Williams; Irving Plaza
February 2009 – Patty Griffin; Beacon Theater
March 2009 – Ingrid Michaelson; City Winery
April 2009 – Indigo Girls; Highline Ballroom
April 2009 – Mates of State (Sun Bears and Black Kids opening – They’re from Jacksonville!); Webster Hall
May 2009 - Adele (The Script opening); Roseland Ballroom
June 2009 – Josh Ritter; Central Park Summerstage
June 2009 – Indigo Girls; Central Park Summerstage
July 2009 – Allie Moss, Allison Weiss, Leila Broussard; The Living Room
September 2009 – Ingrid Michaelson (Greg Holden opening); Webster Hall
September 2009 – Greg Laswell; Joe’s Pub
September 2009 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Radio City Music Hall

So maybe I’m going through a bit of withdrawal, I know there’s stuff to do and see. I’ve been to the beach; I’ve gone shopping, and I know of some great places to eat. I’ve visited friends. I just need to accept that Jacksonville, with its mere pittance of one million or so people, is not a big city. It has charm, though. It’s beautiful. The people are warm and friendly. Maybe, hopefully, my transportation situation will improve, and I will be able to see and love more of the town where I grew up.

This is my first post here, and I wonder if it’ll go to my head.

I’m not new to the social networking … network. I’ve been blogging since 2003, I’m a regular on facebook, I stay active on flickr, and I’m approaching 600 tweets on Twitter. Goodness knows that when one of my friends blogs about something s/he thinks is cool, I’m totally going to check it out. I’ve definitely made my voice heard about things that excite me. I’ll continue to do so.

But here? Here. This is new for me.

First of all, I’m getting paid. To write. That’s been my dream. I do it for fun just because it’s fun, and I know professional writers exist in the world, but now I’m one of them. Me.

And a lot more is riding on my opinion, but I’ll write, and you’ll read and inform yourselves about trying new and wonderful and quality things.

Like what I’m doing. Here.

That’s exciting.

Please join me in the journey.

We’re gonna make waves.

It’s gonna be great.