somnolent stillness
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent occasion found a humble narrator somewhat east of the study area, specifically I was at the “angle” between College Point and Flushing, on a rainy day. The entirety of this exercise was typified by futility and frustration. On my way there, riding in a cab, I got stuck in a “frozen zone” on the Grand Central Parkway when the President of the United States arrived at LaGuardia. That turned my $25 cab ride into a $130 one. When I arrived, an hour late, at my appointment it turned out that I was missing several pieces of the documentation required to complete my business. This meant that I had paid $130 for nothing, and thereby I found myself walking towards Flushing’s Main Street and it’s 7 Line Subway station in a defeated manner. $132.75 down, now.
At least I was able to crack out a few shots along the way, but this was also one of the “sometimes” when it rains.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It’s hard for me not to think “dystopian shit hole” these days.
Everything is broken. It’s not due to COVID either. The entire “system” is broken. I shouldn’t have to petition a member of Congress for help with local issues, and the fact that the City of New York is a-ok with what Flushing Bay looks like isn’t too cool either. Y’know what would improve things here? Luxury Condos… oh, don’t worry, they’ve already got plans drawn up for that.
Bah. It’s all so god damned depressing.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve since located and or replaced the missing documents I needed, which were required for my official business, and have since completed what I came out here to do on a subsequent trip. The good news is that on that second trip I didn’t end up getting banged out on an exploded and bloated cab fare due to the arrival of an American President at LaGuardia Airport.
Before you ask – Department of Motor Vehicles. I stupidly allowed my driver’s license to expire about ten years ago. This hasn’t been a problem, at all, for me. Thing is, one constant regret during the COVID period has been a lack of personal transportation. Lesson learned. Documents are being sorted out as you’re reading this, and the problem will be solved shortly. As the song says – “On the road again.”
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 
My favorite version of “On the Road Again” is Willie Nelson singing it with the Jimmy Sturr Polka Band. Here: https://youtu.be/2tq9fnmLoGU
georgetheatheist . . . pump it
March 17, 2022 at 9:08 pm
Re your inflated cab ride, so sorry to hear that – I hope you might have gained that much and more by not paying to renew your driver’s license for 10 years. Driver’s license is the new Soc Sec No these days, good to have one. Love your pics! – intense industrial activity hiding in plain sight is fascinating to me too.
dbarms8878
March 17, 2022 at 9:15 pm
[…] hours” detailed one of my frequent visits to Sunnyside Yards, “somnolent stillness” went to Flushing, “laminar dissection” is from Industrial Maspeth, and the less viewed […]
molasses sloops | The Newtown Pentacle
December 28, 2022 at 11:00 am