My Very Own Car

I've always gotten the hand-me-down car. I'm not complaining. I never wanted to spend the time researching new or used cars, and I didn't really care what I drove anyway. Four wheels and an air conditioner? Thank you, I'll be on my way.

So the three times we've purchased new-to-us used vehicles, Paul's done the legwork. It became my primary set of wheels only with the arrival of the next car.

That balance was thrown out of whack in New York. We replaced our old Saturn with a much newer Jetta only last year. But once we moved back to Ohio, we needed a second car. This time, it was up to me.

I wasn't excited about the research, but I knew what I wanted: a Prius. I was reminded by friends and family that this was not necessarily a great choice for a young family. I listened, but I also investigated. A Prius is no minivan, but it can fit three car seats in the back. Which is hopefully more than we'll ever need.

Assured that our family will fit, I was free to daydream about the gas mileage: 51/48. Then I did the real research, about the different models, features and generations.

Finally last Saturday, almost exactly six years after we sold off our second vehicle, we became a two-car family again. Never has a car felt more like mine than this blue 2011 Prius.

The car seat is already installed and fits better there than in the Jetta. And I have yet to buy a tank of gas.

Carless in Columbus

Having one car in New York was often one car too many. Especially in the early days there, when Paul often didn't need an auto for work, we sometimes wondered if keeping one was worth the hassle. Alternate-side street sweeping meant the car had to be moved at least once a week, and there was no saying how long it would take to find a parking spot.

Having one car in Ohio is often one car too few. Paul absolutely needs a car both to get to work and to visit businesses around Columbus, so I'm stuck. When we move into our new house, I'll have more options; we'll have a library, trail, park and several stores and coffee shops within walking distance, as well as a grocery store and bus stops. While we're staying with Paul's mom outside of Columbus until we close on the house, I have even fewer options: The only things within walking distance of her house are other houses.

It's possible to go without a car in Columbus, but it's hard. I didn't have a vehicle my first two years at Ohio State, but instead relied on the meager bus system and the few stores within walking distance. It was a relief when I brought a car to campus my junior year.

In New York, few areas aren't accessible by public transportation. In Columbus, few areas are.

We'll be living a few blocks from one of Columbus' main streets, and yet I still wouldn't go without a vehicle. Doctors, dentists, hairdressers: there may be some within walking distance, but I certainly wouldn't have much of a choice, if any. Taxis seem to be available downtown; I'm not sure about the other neighborhoods. It would be all but impossible to visit my in-laws.

We are definitely buying a second car, and I'm looking forward to having options again while Paul's at work. But I sincerely miss the freedom of the subway.

Updates from the Last Year (or So)

Changes big (giant!) and small filled the 14 months since my last update post.

Here are a few of the things I've written about since January 2012 and where they stand now:

May 2012: When we replaced our 1998 Saturn with a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta the previous month, I was happy, but Paul was thrilled. He had wanted a new car for a while, but the positive pregnancy test earlier in the year spurred him to do the research and make the purchase. Paul was a little more worried after we installed the car seat in the back and he had to move the driver's seat waaaaaay up. But he's gotten used to it and all is good. And surprisingly we've used the seat warmers much, much, much more than the sunroof.

August 2012: I had strong suspicions about what would be the most difficult parts about raising a baby in New York City, and I was largely correct. The number of stairs to our apartment is annoying, and not having an in-unit washer and dryer is even more so. Taking Edith outdoors with me alone requires me to descend three floors with the stroller, set it up, and then go back upstairs to get Edith. And I dream of the day I can just pop a load in the washer instead of waiting for Paul to get home before one of us can take the swing that Edith just pooped all over down to the laundromat.

November 2012: The New York City Marathon was cancelled last year due to Hurricane Sandy, but Paul is officially a runner in the 2013 race!

November 2012: Need I say it? Edith was born.

February 2013: Just as I had given up on Paul shaving off his beard, he did it! Paul's beard began the day Edith was born and lasted almost four months. The mustache lasted about 10 minutes longer than the beard before that, too, was shaved away.

February 2013: Gently remind Paul to get moving on the presidential biographies so we can restart our Presidents by the Book project! I have already renewed the biography on William Howard Taft exactly 47 times.

Present: We still own our home in Galloway, Ohio, and yet again we have a new renter after some issues with the last tenants. Here's hoping this one works out.

Baby's First Road Trip

It's an exciting weekend: We'll be in Ohio tomorrow for the first time since Edith was born. But I'm also extremely nervous: We have a 500-mile drive to endure before we get there.

Normally I don't particularly mind the drive. I'm hoping that's the case tomorrow as well. But with a baby you never know. We'll see how long the normally 9-hour drive turns into when you factor in diaper changes, etc.

The four times she's ridden in a car have gone smoothly, but she hasn't been in her car seat enough for me to be confident that we're going to have a nice and quiet ride.

And I'm just talking about the drives to Ohio and back. I haven't even mentioned how nervous I am about the time we're actually spending there. I can count on my hands -- and maybe my toes -- the number of times Edith has left our apartment. I've never even changed her diaper outside of her nursery. Now we're going to be in a completely different environment.

But overnight outings have to start sometime. I know I'm certainly not planning on being cooped up until she's potty trained. So what better way to start than around your forgiving families?

On that note, winter break begins! New blog posts will start again on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Getting Gas After Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy is now more than two weeks in the past, and in Bay Ridge at least, things are back to normal.

As I wrote post-storm, not much changed in Bay Ridge in any case. There was a gigantic tree that fell on a house about a block away, but the house didn't seem to sustain much damage, and the tree has been hauled away. We've heard that the promenade next to the shore was beaten up, but we haven't been to see it.

Either way, neighborhood life has largely moved on. Of course, there are still relief efforts for the parts of New York that were hit much worse -- residents here and elsewhere are collecting and delivering food and supplies to the waterfront communities that were, and still are, devastated. Things are definitely not back to normal for residents in these neighborhoods.

Luckily for Paul and me, our biggest concern was keeping gas in the car so we could make it to the hospital when Edith decides she wants to make her grand entrance. Our tank was just fine immediately following the storm. But after the hurricane, when the subways were still shut down, Paul drove to work as he normally does. A commute of about five or six miles that normally takes around 40 minutes took two-and-a-half hours instead. By the time he returned to Bay Ridge, the tank was less than a quarter full.

So the car stayed parked. When the subway was restored to downtown Brooklyn, Paul took it to work for the next two weeks. Stations that had gas had lines that were hours long. Drivers had better luck filling up their tanks in Staten Island, but the bridge toll (almost $10, even with our E-ZPass) hardly made the quest worth it since we didn't absolutely need more fuel and could get by without it.

Finally, a gas rationing plan was instituted last Friday: cars with license plates ending in odd numbers could get gas on odd-numbered days. Vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers or 0 could get gas on even-numbered days. Paul filled up the tank on Wednesday without waiting in line. He didn't see anyone checking to make sure he had the appropriate license plate number. (He did.)

The rationing is to continue at least through the week in New York City, although it ended Tuesday in New Jersey, where it also started earlier. In the meantime, Paul is happily driving to work again, and we have plenty of gas left to spare to get us to labor and delivery.

Finally, a New Car

Our new car

Our first big purchase together -- even before Paul and I were married -- was a car.

After we were engaged but, I'm almost certain, before I had graduated from college, we picked out a five-year-old navy blue Saturn. I made the down payment and Paul made the monthly payments before our accounts were merged with our marriage.

A few years later we bought a Camry, which we then proceeded to sell a few days before we moved from Columbus to New York in 2007. The Camry was a much nicer car, but the Saturn's drawbacks made it the perfect vehicle for Brooklyn. It was comparatively small (that is, easy to parallel park) and already nine years old. We didn't much care if it got a few bumps and scratches, and indeed I barely flinched when one day I saw a baseball-like crater on the roof, probably caused by something falling from a tree.

Paul had talked about replacing the '98 Saturn for several years, and my negative feelings toward the project turned into indifference several months ago. But not only do I barely ride in the car, I also don't really care about cars in general. If Paul wanted a new one, he was going to have to do the legwork.

He did.

On April Fool's Day we drove our 2009 Volkswagen Jetta home from a dealership in Queens. Paul was certainly spurred by March's positive pregnancy test to get a newer, safer, more reliable vehicle, but he was also tired of his coworkers' jibes. One, hearing about the new car, said it was about time -- the Saturn was decreasing the property values of whatever neighborhood Paul happened to be driving through at the time!

In any case, Paul's happy with the purchase. And even though I've had only a handful of rides, I am, too. Sunroof, heated seats, CD player -- very luxurious compared to a car whose main feature was a cassette tape deck.

The old Saturn

Behind the Wheel: Driving in Ohio & New York

It was New Year's Eve, and I was behind the wheel for maybe the third or fourth time in 2010.

In Brooklyn, I drive the car a few blocks here and there -- to park, to get groceries or to run other small errands. My highway driving is now few and far between. Nevertheless, there I was in Columbus on Dec. 31, on Interstate 670 heading west toward Hilliard.

I was completely sober -- I'd been downing water and cranberry juice like nobody's business at the party we had attended. Still, I was afraid I appeared drunk from my sheer inexperience. I'm not sure, however, a cop would have accepted that as an excuse.

It didn't take long to find my feet, as it were. The 300 miles I drove -- getting us about halfway through Pennsylvania -- the following Sunday on our return to New York took care of that. Still, it's odd not being completely comfortable behind the wheel each and every time I take the driver's seat.

When we visited Peter Luger in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg last month for Paul's birthday, Paul drove. As we walked to the car, it occurred to me that this was the first time we had ever driven the car in New York strictly to go to a restaurant. What a special occasion! In Columbus -- at least in our old neighborhood of Galloway -- it would have been strange to walk. Of course, this isn't true of all Columbus neighborhoods, but I think it's more the rule than the exception.

I don't miss driving, but I do miss the convenience. I miss the warm air of the heater blowing in my face during bitter winter morning commutes. I miss the "All Things Considered" jingle on my way home.

I don't miss getting gas two or three times a week. That's just as annoying as I remembered.

Miles vs. Minutes in New York City

In Ohio, 1 mile = 1 minute.

This is true nearly everywhere, except in the heart of the state's biggest cities and during the unavoidable rush hours.

In New York City, 1 mile = ? This is true in all locations, at all times.

A trip by subway from Bay Ridge to, for example, Times Square could be 30 minutes if the train pulls up as you step on the platform and you then transfer from a local to an immediately arriving express train. Make the same trip after midnight, when the trains are local and you might have to wait up to a half hour for a train, and the trip can easily take over an hour.

What's more, a destination that's further away in miles isn't necessarily further away by subway. It all depends on the nearest subway station and whether that station has express trains.

The distances from our apartment to New York landmarks are deceivingly small, even if you travel by car. It may take only about 20 minutes to drive the 9 miles to Greenwich Village, but by the time you find a parking spot (let alone pay the exorbitant fee), you may just as well have taken the subway.

Here's just a few of our commuting conundrums, from closest (in miles) to our apartment to furthest away:

Staten Island
2 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway/ferry: 1 hour

Coney Island
6 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Battery Park (Statue of Liberty)
7 miles
Car: 15 minutes
Subway: 30 minutes

Greenwich Village
9 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 40 minutes

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
9 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Union Square
10 miles
Car: 20 minutes
Subway: 40 minutes

Herald Square
11 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway: 45 minutes

Times Square
12 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Central Park
13 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour

Metropolitan Museum of Art
14 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 50 minutes

LaGuardia Airport
16 miles
Car: 25 minutes
Subway/bus (yup, you need both!): 1 hour 30 minutes

Citi Field (Home of the Mets)
18 miles
By car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 20 minutes

JFK Airport
20 miles
Car: 30 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 45 minutes

Yankee Stadium
21 miles
Car: 35 minutes
Subway: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cabs and Car Services in New York City

I've never hailed a taxi.

I feel that this is a failing on my part, and one that must be corrected before I can even pretend I'm a New Yorker.

In fact, I think I've only been in a "real" taxi once or twice-- coming home from the airport late at night. No hailing required-- just get in the line for cabs and pop into the next one that pulls up.

Except for the airports, Brooklyn and Queens don't generally rely on yellow cabs. We have car services. Same pay-by-mile/time system, but they aren't hailed. You just give 'em a call and they pick you up. Car services are prevalent; there's one less than a block away from our apartment that we used to catch a 6 a.m. flight to Ohio.

Paul has hailed a cab or two for work, but I've never seen him do it. Except for going to or from the airport, we had rarely even been in a New York cab or car service vehicle together until Saturday night. We were with some friends in Queens, it was 4 a.m., and a subway ride would have been 90 minutes on a good night. Probably closer to two hours. Or more.

So we splurged on a car service, the first time we've ever done so after a night out. Warm! Comfortable! Quick! I just tried not to pay attention as Paul handed over two $20 bills for the convenience.

What I Miss from My Daily Commute in Ohio

I didn't exactly enjoy my 50-minute commute to and from work each day in Ohio, but I did have it down to a science.

I left home at exactly 7:42 a.m. to get to my desk by 8:30. It was a long, boring drive (after I got out of our subdivision, the drive involved exactly two turns), but my radio routine helped to pass the long minutes.

In the morning I would listen to my favorite radio station and Columbus' lone alternative option, CD101. On the way home, I'd flip the channel to NPR for All Things Considered (or, if I got off a bit later, Marketplace).

I don't miss the drive, but I do miss the radio. Now I rarely listen in, and my knowledge of new music is nearly zilch. But what I really miss most is the ability to sing.

Don't get me wrong-- I am absolutely, positively a horrible singer. But in the privacy of my own car, no one knows that.

Even in our house in Galloway I would crank up my MP3s and belt out a few tunes when Paul wasn't around to get annoyed. In the close quarters of our current six-family apartment building, however, I am much too embarrassed. And besides, our downstairs neighbors are likely already annoyed enough at us since the cats tend to knock something heavy onto the floor at least twice a week.

In any case, my blooming career in music has been put on hold for the last two years-- to everyone's relief, I'm sure, except for me.

Driving in Ohio vs. New York

Since moving to New York, Paul and I have been introduced to the wonderful world of car rentals.

Before we relocated, I had rented a car exactly once, a few years ago on a vacation in Washington state. Now we rent a car two or three times a year when we fly into Columbus or Detroit to visit our families.

Labor Day weekend was no exception. We always reserve the cheapest car but usually get upgraded because we land at the airport so late and the compacts are already gone.

Not this time.

We were stuck with an ugly two-door taxi-cab-yellow Chevy Cobalt. We literally thought we would get hailed on our way home from the the bars Saturday and Sunday nights. By Sunday afternoon, Paul had already christened the car "Old Yeller."

We still have our Saturn in Brooklyn, but cruising in Ohio is a completely different experience than driving in New York.

We hadn't even been in the car for half an hour when Paul declared he would've blared the horn at the car in front of us if we were in New York. (You have to do something really bad to get honked at in Ohio. Like maybe actually hit someone.) Later in the weekend Paul marveled that he could actually drive the speed limit on the interstate without fear of rear-ending someone.

Alas, I didn't drive once during this trip to Ohio. But I did listen to my favorite radio station within the confines of a car-- something I haven't been able to do in way too long.

A Towed Car for the Second Straight August

As I walked to the subway Thursday morning, I noticed that 79th Street was eerily clear of vehicles. The street was being repaved.

My stomach immediately sank. Didn't Paul say he had parked on that part of the street earlier in the week? I punched his number into my cell phone.

Me: "Where did you say you parked?"
Paul: "Uhhhh ... 80-something ..."
Me: "Oh, good. I was worried ..."
Paul: "Oh, wait. I parked on 79th."

Whoops.

Our car also got towed last August during some last-minute, ill-marked street paving. The tow trucks moved it into an illegal spot a few streets away, and our subsequent parking ticket was thrown out.

So it took Paul only about 15 minutes to find the car this time, where a bright yellow sheet on our windshield noted that it had been towed by the Department of Transportation. "Do Not Ticket," it went on.

And on top of that note? A $115 parking ticket.

Not surprising, Paul said, since our Saturn was moved directly in front of a fire hydrant. In any case, I'm hoping this ticket also will be thrown out. Deja vu all over again.

Jaywalking as an Art Form

Temperatures in the upper 60's ... spring has again arrived in New York City.

Well, at least it was here for a day or two. We took advantage of the beautiful weather Saturday by taking a 4-mile walk in and around Central Park. We were joined by just about everyone else who lives in the city.

New York must have been in a good mood. The proof? A driver of a truck in midtown actually waved us across the street as he was about to turn. That, my friends, is a spring miracle.

It's a common phenomenon in Ohio, but it's practically unheard of here. In New York, it's every walker for him/herself. A little bump from a car never hurt anybody. That is, unless it kills you. Surprisingly, you don't hear about too many pedestrian deaths around here.

Just a guess, but I bet the tourists never get hit. Manhattan tourists are easy to spot. Their feet are planted firmly on the sidewalk, and their eyes are glued to the walk sign.

Locals, on the other hand, barely notice the sign. They take long, confident strides into the middle of the street and dash across at even the slightest hesitation from an approaching vehicle.

As a fast, impatient walker, I fit in just fine.

Getting Around New York

I love the subway.

OK, I don't like the occasional pile of puke underneath a seat. Or waiting 20 minutes for the next train. Or being packed like sardines during the morning commute (it doesn't happen everyday- really!).

But overall it's a convenient, comparatively cheap form of transportation.

In Ohio, Paul and I each had about a 70 mile round-trip commute. When gas was $2/gallon, I estimate that together we spent $200/month filling up our tanks just to get to and from work.

Here, we each buy a 30-day unlimited ride Metrocard for $81 apiece, which grants us access to the subway system and almost all buses. The price of the card is supposed to rise above $100 next year. Sure, I'd rather not have the increase, but I think we'll still come out ahead on our transportation costs.

The one thing that puts a dent in my calculations is the one car we still own. That means we still have to pay car insurance. Now and again, it is nice to have a vehicle. We could visit Allison and Phil in Maryland last weekend on our own time, instead of depending on a bus. We can load up the car with cat litter instead of lugging it back by hand. And Paul does use it for work once in awhile.

One bad thing about driving around here? All of the tolls.

We spent almost $50 just to get to and from Baltimore, which seems a bit ridiculous for a three-hour trip. Granted, part of those tolls were for the turnpike. At least then I feel like I'm paying for lighter traffic and a higher speed limit. What really irks me are the bridge tolls. What am I supposed to do-- swim across?

I don't have to worry about tolls this week. I'm taking an overnight Greyhound bus from New York to Toledo on Monday night, so this will be my last post until after Christmas. Happy holidays!

Our Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Car Experience

We still haven't sold our car, even though we keep saying we're going to. We're planning a road trip to Montreal over Labor Day weekend, so maybe after that.

In the meantime, we (i.e. Paul) must move the car every few days because of alternate side street sweeping. Each side of the street has 90 minutes set aside once a week for cleaning, and signs are posted telling drivers when they can't park there.

Last Thursday evening Paul parked in a spot that wouldn't be swept again until this morning. He got home from a beer club meeting (yes, you read that right) about midnight last night and went to move the car.

But he couldn't find it. We split up and scoured the streets for the Saturn, thinking maybe he didn't park it where he thought he did. No luck. Paul even tried pressing the car alarm button periodically in hopes of hearing, if not seeing, it.

We weren't able to find out if it was towed, and real people in city offices are hard to come by on the phone that late at night. So early this morning Paul made some calls and found out what happened.

Sometime after Paul parked the car last Thursday night, signs were displayed saying that the street would be under construction Wednesday and all cars must be moved. The street is only two blocks from our apartment, but we happened not to walk down it in the last week and never saw the signs.

So the car got towed to a nearby street in an illegal parking spot. Our car then proceeded to get a ticket at 7:55 this morning, less than an hour before a police officer told Paul by phone the location of our car.

Paul found out from a coworker that we can dispute the ticket online, which we definitely will be doing.

And that's why you shouldn't bring a car to New York City.

Keeping a car in Brooklyn

I think it was Allison who asked if we had a car here. Yep- one.

This isn't really by choice. Paul's boss says he has to have one, although he's only used it for work two or three times. The subway goes nearly everywhere in New York City, but there's a few places that are just impractical to get to by public transit.

Here's some food for thought-- Almost all of the subway lines were constructed to get from one borough into Manhattan. So even though Queens is connected to Brooklyn (directly north), the quickest way to get there by train is to go to midtown Manhattan.

Anyway, the car has come in handy a time or two. We've gone to Bay Ridge's big (by comparison to others here) grocery store (it even has a parking lot!) twice and loaded up the trunk with food. Luckily there's a fire hydrant in front of our apartment building, so we park there and turn on the flashers. Paul hauls everything upstairs while I stay in the car to make sure we don't get ticketed.

Parking is a pain but not impossible. Street cleaning occurs every week, so you have to pay careful attention to the signs. For example, one side of the street we live on is cleaned every Thursday and the other is cleaned every Friday. So we have to move the car every week, whether we use it or not. When I didn't have a job, I would move the car five minutes after street cleaning ended and get a good spot.

I'm still not comfortable parallel parking, but I'm making myself do it. The car had to be moved yesterday, so I got in the driver's seat when I was walking back from the subway after work. Unbeknownst to me, Paul rode the same train home and had the same idea. When he saw the car pull away, he initially thought someone had stolen it! It would probably be a lot easier on both of us if someone really would.

Taking off the rose-colored glasses

I love our apartment and I love living in New York, but it's not all sunshine and lollipops. Here's a few things bothering me so far:

1: The noise. Our apartment is on a busy road above a bar, so that means traffic at all hours and people talking (and screaming) until the wee hours many nights. Drunk patrons in yelling matches are not at all uncommon.
On the plus side: Living on a busy street means there's a lot of stores and restaurants nearby, the sidewalks are well-lit and I never feel unsafe walking back from the subway.

2: Walking outside in bad weather. I got my first taste of that last weekend, and how I longed for a car and garage! As I found out Saturday, my boots aren't exactly rainproof. Luckily, boots with cute designs on them seem to be quite popular, so I think I'll be getting myself a pair.
On the plus side: We spent a lot of money on gas in Ohio. We're spending a lot less here on transportation, even with monthly subway passes for both of us.

3: Not having a thermostat. I didn't anticipate this one. The landlord controls the heat throughout the building. He turned it on yesterday and it was about 90 degrees throughout the building. Everyone here had all their windows open. Luckily it's off today. I always thought nyc apartments were supposed to be cold.
On the plus side: It should be nice and cozy this winter, and I don't have to pay for the heat.

4: Grocery selection. Who would have thought 6-inch flour tortillas would be so hard to find? These were a staple of my diet in Columbus. Now I'm rationing all I have left from the move. A few other faves are expensive, hard to find or both. For example, a small jar of peanut butter is about $2.50, and I can only find graham crackers in one shop (a drug store), and they're $4 a box. I guess we'll be putting all the money we saved on groceries into food.
On the plus side: A Greek grocer less than a block away has pitas in all different flavors at reasonable prices, and the larger grocery store in our neighborhood has several varieties of couscous. Also, the fruit and veggie grocer across the street is quite convenient.