TREES: Really love your peaches wanna shake your tree...

Wildlife in New York...after returning from South Africa, I never would have suspected that reading a book in my back garden would be interrupted by an intense fascination with playful city squirrels fighting over unripened peaches. And the strangest part is, I'm here 14 years, when the heck did a peach tree pop up in the back yard, and when is peach season?! Back in love with NYC!

TAXI: 9H94

After slipping out of my day job for what I considered early enough to get to the C&G summer outing on time, got me to Chelsea Piers about 30 minutes late. No worries, as I still had time to master the art of my golf swing in just about 15 minutes with a pro. I'm a force to be reckoned with now, watch your back, Mickelson!

Next, in order to prevent re-injuring my still not 100% right elbow, I took on left-handed bowling, mastered that too beating Vinoo with a whopping score of 85. I was on fire! Be very afraid, Walter Ray Williams Jr. (I'll admit it, I had to look that one up).

A quick shower and we were off to chow down at the Sunset Terrace with some old and new friends from my former 9-5 home. Spectacular view, and great entertainment by the Charles Soule band, featuring (not all at once) Harvey, Steve, Ellen, Issy, Natalie and Tiffany (hope I didn't miss anyone). Enjoyed nice conversation with gracious hosts Mark and Larry, on their big day. ;)

Later, us "cool" kids headed over to the Half King Bar for a nightcap, snacks and somewhat incoherent dialogue....oh, and night in a bar wouldn't be complete w/o me volunteering a well-needed back rub.

I was happy to get a cab quite quickly on 10th Avenue, and I didn't even have to trick the driver to let me in before telling him I was headed to Queens. I looked to take note of his hack license, as I do, only to realize it had been removed (obviously it wasn't his taxi)...hmmm..."Where are you from?" I ask, to at least get some details to give the cops should the need arise. "Ghana" he answers...to which I (perhaps premature to my safe arrival at home) reply "I'm sorry, I cannot be your friend because your team knocked the US out of the last two World Cups." The silence induced by my response made the rest of the ride slightly awkward, however safe (and quite quick) arrival home was evidence that he had more class than I did when it came to discussing soccer in the wee hours of the morning.

TIP: Be careful what you wish for...

Today I realized that accepting 2 jobs in as many days...keeping in mind that I already work in an office full time...might be a bit insane. This doesn't even count the volunteer work I hope to do again for the Fordham soccer team again this year...

TIP: Don't bite off more than you can chew, but then again, no one said you can't spit it out...

TRICK: #7 line - Manhattan to Queens

After a long day starting with seeing my visiting friend off at 4:30am, a job interview at 10am (which I think I landed successfully, whether I want it or not is another issue), the law office at 11:30am, happy hour with an old friend by 6:30, and finally homeward bound on the #1 to the #7. It was here that I saw a young man with his "pants on the ground" stand up, and completely undo his pants, reached into his pants to tuck in, god knows what, and refasten his waistband, in the name of exhibition I can only guess. But even more comical, was the Asian woman who sat in the seat right next to me, completely ignoring an entire row of open seats just next to her, only to discover only after I started coughing, that she'd rather sit in opposite end of the car...at which time I asked myself, would this trick work with any passenger, or only an Asian who left their mask at home?

TRICK: To acquire additional real estate on the #7 Flushing-bound train, simply fake a sudden obvious and repulsive illness...

PS...Perhaps I'm missing some important message about my means of transport, between the above events on mass transit and the Personal Mobility Assessment Questionnaire from the Scooter Store, what is this telling me?