blackout day
from the notebook of huny c. young on 14 august 03:
I feel like shakespeare writing by candlelight.
approximately ten million people, me included, in new york have no power tonight...not counting the countless other millions in detroit, cleveland, canada, parts of DC and boston. the outtage hit around 3 or 4pm when I was sitting on my computer writing an e-mail...man I was just livid...I figured ConEd was fucking with my shit again...like I ain't just pay to get it back on day before yesterday. I had my shoes on and everything, ready to go down to the basement and make heads roll...but when I walked into the hallway and saw the lights were off there too I figured it was a more widespread problem. didn't realize exactly how widespread until christopher called me from work in cleveland to report all the power had ceased to exist out there as well. then it just seemed creepy as fuck...
in any case, the thought of being in my apartment with only myself for company once it got dark was unbearable (no tv, no computer, no light to even write with? as if), so tara said I could crash at her place for the night. I took a shower, packed an overnight bag (I had a feeling it wouldn't be something that'd be fixed within hours), and was out the door within 20 minutes to find a cab willing to drive me to mt. vernon without any functioning stop lights before it got dark. ended up costing me $15 but that was worth not being alone in the all too quiet dark without anything to eat or drink for that matter (stores all closed right after the blackout occured).
the cab ride was surreal as hell...everyone was outside...and I do mean everyone...brought together in the sun by force...primal. and there were ambulances and fire trucks whizzing by constantly...I imagined people stuck in elevators, old people with non-functioning home respiratory systems, so on, so forth...
when I got to tara's we went to the store to stock up on goodies...junk food pretty much. shit that didn't need refrigeration or microwaves. we walked there with some of her neighborhood friends...funny chicks that make me laugh everytime I see them...so I was immediately glad I'd made the trip. I can't imagine what I would've done all day and night without anybody to interact with.
so now it's dark and unbearably hot in the house so tara and I are sitting on her front porch drinking and watching the kids run around acting absolutely insane like they've never been in the dark before...sausages are in the oven for tara, wifey and kids. I don't do pork so for dinner I have a tasty array of bullshit including chips ahoy cookies and guacamole flavored potato ships. honestly I didn't care what the fuck I have to eat; I am having a severe attack of bronchitis...I can't breathe, can't stop coughing, and I think I might have hives by the morning considering tara has a cat that won't stay away from me...they know when you're allergic...they can sense it. we keep putting his ass in the bathroom but since it's dark he sneaks out everytime someone opens the door to pee...the bell on his collar betrays his stealthiness.
I'm quite frankly high really...on cough medicines, lics, and sticky green...I am just absolutely lifted...I'm concentrating really hard on forming complete sentences. I keep getting enthralled in this big green candle illuminating me as I write...tara keeps telling me to back away from it cause it's a bug candle and not meant to be inhaled but it's so preeeetttyyyy.
haha, you know hood niggas can't go five minutes without their music so someone has their stereo out across the street...I noticed heads stocking up on batteries while we were at the store too...they're having a cook-out and playing 70's funk loud enough for the entire block and then some. I guess after nine/eleven new yorkers can roll with the punches and still have a satisfactory attitude about it...everyone has been good-spirited considering the circumstances...even my cab driver, yo. communial celebration in the pitch dark...humid and hot as hades...more alive in the darkness then I could've ever thought...the air is practically vibrating.
traj, my dad, and my brother are calling us frequently to report news updates. if the mayor is to be believed (*tee hee, snicker, snort*) the power should be restored by the time we wake up in the morning...we'll see.
I really do feel like shit right now though...I haven't been sick in awhile so I guess it was about due time...earlier this year I was getting sick once every two weeks like clockwork. this wheezing is gonna keep me up all night...so much for outgrowing allergies.
^ so that ends what I wrote in my notebook on blackout day. my handwriting ain't so bad considering I was scribing in near complete darkness...
I'm still a bit sick but better now then I was that day...still wheezing but the cough is down to a minimum. I'm going out to friday's (the hang-out formerly known as houlihan's) and get my drink on...kyedi is meeting me there a bit later after she get off work...the rest of the night is up for grabs. I'd go to the club but I don't want to aggravate my asthma anymore than it is already. I just wanna get out of this fuckin apartment.
I was thisclose to buying a plane ticket to LA day before yesterday...I was just so desperate for alternate surroundings...but I chilled. christopher and my brother will be out here in two weeks...cos is having a birthday party...good things are on the horizon...its only absolutely unbearable when I have nothing to look forward to...