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July 13, 2005
Mundane Monday
Just another manic Monday….whoa ohhh”, wish it was Sunday, that’s my fun day, My I don’t have to run day…just another Manic Monday…”
Manic Monday
-The Bangles
Sorry, I don't know which album this song is on. It's always running through my head on Monday mornings, soI thought it would be a good way to introduce the latest episode in the subway series.
I’m a little late today, as is usually the case on Mondays. Due to the effects of weekend withdrawal, I stayed a little longer in bed than I should have. I immediately reflect on the last two days and wish that I didn’t ever have to work again. I’d rather be canoodlin’ and spoonin’ with my honey, drinkin’ martinis (neat-stirred and not shaken) on some white sanded beach instead of staring at a computer screen and workin’ my ass off to make somebody else rich. I linger for a while, thinkin’ about callin in sick, but I remember where I was a few months ago, unemployed, broke and miserable, so I drag my lazy ass out of bed and hit the shower. Ouch! Reality leaves teeth marks when she bites!
8:15
Commuters move about like drones; their eyes look gaunt and empty. We are all suffering from the same disease and they all look how I feel, well, I suppose I look how I feel too-Monday’s will do that to you. I press play on my cd player, close my eyes and allow Raaphael Saadiq take me as far away from these Monday blues as possible.
“Your life, and my life is not so predictable, you and me, gotta know which way we wanna go…my life has been an up and down struggle, but now I know, which way I gotta go…
“Next stop Borough Hall”, announces the conductor. He sounds as though he’s suffering from Mondayitis as well. As I prepare to exit the crowded train, I almost trip and bust my ass cuz Ms. “I’m-too-cute-to-move-out-of-the-way,” is blocking the exit. She doesn’t want to lose her spot in front of the door, where she’s been ogling herself since we left Flatbush. I “accidently” plant a strategically placed heel right on top of her meticulously manicured toes, watch her recoil in pain, smile apologetically at her twisted face (not so cute now) excuse myself, and exit the train.
8:45
I arrive at my place of unemployment-unfortunately my supervisor is back from vacation, which means that mine is over! Damn…
12:30
Time for lunch: It’s come to my attention; or rather it’s come to everyone else’s attention that I’ve been putting on a few pounds. What can I say? I’m in love and it shows…and shows…and shows…
So…I decide that instead of feeling sorry for myself I will be proactive and try to get a membership at Lucille Roberts. A couple of co-workers have memberships and they pay no more than 23 bucks a month. I can dig it! So I call up the one on Fulton Street and take a trek downtown. When I get there, the chick at the front desk sizes me up. I know she’s doing it, cuz I usually do it-only I’m less obvious. I approach the counter, and she ignores me for a minute to answer her cell phone. Obviously the person hung up because she spent the next few minutes fiddling with her phone trying to find out who called her. I look around at the equipment and the women working out. It’s not a meat-market, or fashion show in here, which I appreciate. The women are here to get their work-out on. I like that. The girl is tapping her fingers on the desk impatiently. “Can I help you?”she asks between loud smacks of gum.
“Oh...I’m interested in joining…
She slaps a clipboard on the desk.
“Fill this out, and bring it back to me when you’re done,” she says and shoos me to a bench in the corner. I feel like I’m at the doctor’s office. I did as I was told, and brought the form back to her and sure enough the chick was nowhere to be found. I look around the gym and I notice her giggling with some of the clients in the corner. She sees me waiting and swaggers back to the counter.
I’m annoyed now, and it shows.
“You want pricing, or info?” She asks.
“Pricing”, I tell her. “I’d like to join today.”
“Hi, how you doin’ I’m Nyeisha”, she says, friendly all of a sudden. She pulls out a laminated flyer listing the offers they have going on right now.
She begins to speak really fast, like those car commercial announcers.” I didn’t’ understand one word she said, and what’s worse was that the prices she listed weren’t what I was expecting. I mentioned that I had friends that were members and weren’t paying what she quoted me. She flicked her atrocious weave again and rolled her eyes.
“Offers we had in the past don’t apply to new members m’am.”
I told her I didn’t think I’d be able join today.
“Why not?” She snapped. The faux pleasant look on her face was transforming itself to reveal it’s true nastiness.
“Cuz you’re a rude little bitch with a bad weave and no customer service skills,” (And she wasn’t that “fit” either.) I snapped, turned around and walked right out of that gym and back into the heat and bustle of Fulton Street, feeling a little defeated. I really wanted to start getting back in shape right away. I press play on my cd player once again, tuck my tail between my legs and head back to work.
“Never felt this way before, this feeling that you give to me I can’t ignore. (You’re my joy)
You truly do enlighten me, you’re all I’ll ever want, indeed you got the best of me Oh baby come with me…
You’re all I’ll ever want and need you got the best of me so baby come with me…
You got me wide open, and I’m digging you so baby keep it comin’”
O.k., this is my favorite song on the cd-it really does transport me to a pleasant place. It’s so airy and light. I feel free and beautiful as I walk down the street, oblivious to what people might think of me. There’s something about this song, and the way it’s sung. The drums, the keyboards, the lyrics, my heartbeat; it uplifts me immediately, making me feel like I’m the only woman in the world, and I feel love. I’m in love, I feel love, I want to give it…. I may have put on a couple of pounds, but my baby makes me feel weightless. I have no burdens and I’m free… I know, I know… it sounds cliché; maybe a little corny, but it’s true, it’s the way I feel...
I keep the song on repeat-it’s a long song, which means I’ve been listening to it all the way to subway (the sandwhich place)-where I pick up a 6 inch turkey breast sandwich, as opposed to the foot-long philly-cheese hero that I crave…
2:00
Back at my desk, finish the turkey breast surf the net and goof around for a while, until it’s time to go. I suppose this Monday didn’t turn out so bad after all, but then again, the day isn’t over yet…but, I’ll definitely keep you posted…
Posted by renee at July 13, 2005 4:09 PM