They are tearing down Coney Island. So we had to see it. It takes about 75 minutes by subway to get there. The subway was running faster than it was last week, but it was mixed up. The local 1 train was running on the 2 and 3 express tracks and vice versa. Now why this helps construction, no one seems to know.... another mystery to be cleared up in the heareafter.
We decided that we needed to have the real Coney Island experience. We started by going on Cyclone. Quint and Jennifer were the cheering section. It was a combo of "Colosus" at Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA.... "Space Mountain" (before improvements) at Disneyland, and "The Tower of Terror" in Disney's California Adventure. I'm glad the operator told me to put away my camera. It was insane. Jennifer and I did the "Log Jammer" type ride while the rest went on Dante's Inferno. Then they joined us. Then it was off to another "land" for the Ferris Wheel.
Ever since 1979, I have liked Nathan's Hot Dogs. When I found them at the supermarket, I started buying them. Quint was in heaven. He prefers hot dogs over burgers. Everyone had a dog of their choice, a drink (mostly lemonade) an we split 5 orders of fries. A real NY experience.... followed by the Freak Show. No photos allowed.
It was so freaky that no one wanted to leave. After an hour, we headed to the NY Aquarium. Good thing it was open util 7. We got there about 3. Then we headed to the exit/entrance to head home. Except Jennifer saw the beach. She knew we brought her suit. She never got to actually go into the water in Massachusets. Not content to sit and watch the volleyball game, we trekked out to get her feet wet in the water. But that wasn't enough, so we trekked back to get her suit on and back again so she could get in the ocean. This is when I realized that when your mom tells you not to run (as I repeatedly did with her) it is not because she thinks you may fall (although you may and then that could require an ER viist) but it's because the child has too much energy and the mom is worn out and cannot keep up. After we returned to the boardwalk and joined the others she stated that she planned on getting in her stroller and going to sleep.
BITTER ALERT: Sterling says I am bitter about the following experience. So skip it if you don't want to have to read a rant.
It's a nice entance to the subway. Except the MTA person isn't at the gate. New York doesn't win any awards for disabled subway access, stroller access, etc. But cities are made to be efficient and babies and handicapped are not efficient. I have to be careful of my right elbow, so picking up the stroller and carting up and down the stairs is a potential problem. This gate was a real nighmare. It's a "goat gate" Like the ones at a children's zoo to keep the goats in. There is no way a child in a stroller can go through. You either have to disassemble and fold up the stroller (and the "crap a la family of 4" that goes with it) or you have to ring the attendant and have him buzz you thru the emergency exit "normal" gate. So Quint rang.
We knew, from another intern's first-day-in-New-York experience, that even if you hold a monthly pass, you have to swipe the card thru the reader and then turn the stile when using the gate for a stroller. If you don't you could be fined $60. So Quint rang. He was buzzed thru. But held the gate open for me in case it didn't work. We pushed the stoller thru to Ster, who went thru the goat gate. Quint swiped his card then went thru the gate. I swiped my card but turned the stile for Quint, stupidly, locking my card out since I had just swiped. It said JUST USED. No problem, Quint held the gate open for me. Meanwhile, the open gate is setting off the emergency alarm; even though the attendant buzzed us through.
Next thing we know, four officers meet us at the stairs to go up to the trains. Three remian on the stairs and one comes down on to the landing to us and gets in our face. He is accusing us of opening the emergency exit and not paying. Quint starts to explain and he gives us this Brooklyn cop attitude. I knew we were in for it. He wantes to see ID. Quint gives him his driver's license. I give him my I-house ID. It has a photo, my signature, a hologram stamp. etc. I'm not driving. But it's not good enough. Not wanted to further the butt-head moment, I get out my wallet and give him my license. "We don't do things here you do in Utah." He continued the heated lecture. I explained what happened, backing up what Quint said, but I got tongue tied. He jumped all over me. So I raised my voice at him and cut him off when he cut me off. AND I RAISED MY INDEX FINGER.
Evidently this is a crime in Brooklyn. I also could see that this guy was not into solving a problem or finding the facts. He wanted blood or money. He started in on a lecture about the rules in New York. And the problems including people with strollers who open the gate and then non-paying people come in. (How is a tourist supposed to know which NY rules are real when everyone walks across the street on a red light?) So I said to him, "Why don't you take our passes and scan them and see if we used them." He shut up. Evidently a novel idea. Also I had him trapped. I knew we had used our passes. He didn't know. He didn't hear the conversation with the attendant and he didn't witness us going through the gates nor swiping our passes. He only heard the alarm. So he gave our passes to his little buddy partner. I was peeved that he didn't do it. But now I am glad. I don't know if he would have told the truth.
What I didn't notice was that the other cops had told the students and our kids to go upstairs. We were sectioned off on the platform with the one cop. I swear this cop with the bad attiutde and accent was going to arrest us. He was salivating. He continued to explain that people going thru the emergency exit was a real problem in NYC-- holding the door open for other non-paying foks. I told him that if it were a real problem, then he should be stationed at the door. That this was the most unfriendly stroller town. PERIOD, Then his buddy came back. "They are good." The cop was stunned. We told the truth. Quint said we appreciated the job he did and we walked away. What a suck-up. (Obviously he is practicing.) But my view of Brooklyn cops has changed. 4 cops. One shooting off his mouth. The other 3 standing there like dumb, dumber and dumbest. No one trying to be productive — trying to solve NYC's biggest problem. He was out for a Saturday night of bashing heads.
That night I had dinner with my best friend from Jr High and High School. She is now an attorney in L.A. with an advanced law degree in mediation. She said his problem was that he ran into someone who was was a thinker. Just like most of our current elected government officials, this cop didn't want to actually solve a problem, he just want to bash heads. I'm glad I told him to check our passes. It certainly wasn't on his radar. Or at least if it was, he wasn't going to say anything about it. I'm glad I knew that you could do that. I found that out by accident when Jennifer turned the stile and went in ahead of me weeks ago. I had to ask an attendant to let me in. If it is a big problem in NYC, then one of them should have a reader to check those around gate when the alarm goes off... or run the card thru the gate reader. It would say JUST USED. But they were there to bash heads and lighten wallets... and make tourists glad they are leaving Coney Island.
Coney Island is supposed to be redesigned to resemble City Walk or Downtown Disney. I wish them luck. No one ever comments on how they like abusive cops at those venues. They may need to send them out for extensive training. Or bring LA or Anaheim cops here for tourist training. The urine in the elevators on the subway and the lack of elevators at any station other than Time Square are bigger issues, in my opinion.
Dee and I had a great time together over dinner. It funny how you can not to talk to someone for years and then pick up a conversation and it feels like you haven't been apart for long.... I showed her the way to the shuttle to Grand Central Terminal and I continued off to Harlem at midnight. There were more folks out at midnight than during the day! She was to take the train to see Roger in CT. I hope she made it. Roger is a trooper. He is so excited to see anyone he goes to great lengths to accomodate our weird schedules: the Bronx Zoo or the train arriving at 2 am.
But the mayor is getting a letter... and maybe the NY Times and the new Coney Island Developers.
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