Day 1 - Jersey City: Getting Settled

My flight into Phoenix happened without issue, but the connecting flight was held up for 2.5 hours. The first 2 hours we due to nasty weather in Newark and the last 30 minutes to our number one engine shutting itself down. When we finally did take off it was a white knuckle ride.

I arrived in Newark about 1:20AM, exhausted, and ready to fall into a bed. But first I had to get to the apartment. Silly me exited the terminal and tryed to find a cab to hail by just going out to the curb. I didn't see, at first, the line of people waiting for cabs to my left. Oy. What a snafu that would have been for me to stick my arm out AS IF I was going to sneak in front of all those people. I sheepishly got in line and waited my turn.

$46 for a trip to Jersey City. Do cabbies really expect to be tipped as well? Sheesh. My driver was nice enough. He got me there and I gave him $51. 10% tip. He should be thrilled. Highway robbery. I would have taken the train if it were earlier in the day. Alas.

It was good to arrive. I think I fell asleep by 2:30AM. Alarm went off at 6:30AM. WTF? Stayed in bed til 8AM and then rolled out of bed and hit up the local Starbucks on the corner. Nothing to eat in the kitchen. Unpacked, showered, worked a bit, then walked down the street to the local market. Fucking highway robbery, again. $71 for basic groceries. Where is my Trader Joe's? Where is my Whole Foods? Eating at restaurants will be cheaper than this. So I have some staples. Hurray. At least I can get a pint of blueberries for $1.99 here on the east coast. Small victory.

Made the unfortunate accident of telling the ex-wife that I'd arrived. She snipped, "So is he coming to see the boys tonight?" Ah, "No", I told her, 'we have plans tonight". She griped that because we had sex last night that I should be OK with him leaving. Ahem, I reminded her that I had paid $150 to show up a day early, if you can count 2AM a day early, and that I did not agree to whatever silly plan she'd cooked up. Oh, let's not forget the $51 for the cab. Maybe I should ask for her to cover the $201 I spent if she wants him sooner. Heh. She hasn't spoken to me the remainder of the day. Silly assumption on her part that I would pay $201 to show up early and then just be fine with him taking off after I'd seen him for, what, an entire hour and a half? She's smokin' crack.

Tonight we're doing dinner (South City Grill, nice place) and a movie (maybe "Wanted"). Weather is perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Absolutely perfect. If this is normal, I could live here in a heartbeat.