Friday, February 23, 2007

Sweet Pain

I ate too much. Couldn't move. Lying on a couch like a seal.
My sweet boyfriend picked me up. Heavy me. To the bed.
He released himself on the bed,
with me lying over his chest.
To save my darling from being smothered.
I rolled over off his body, like a sushi roll.
In half sleep, I did not know that
we were already on the edge of the bed.
I beautifully fell down on the floor.
My big, fatty butt was not enough cushion.
My left side of the body, head to toe,
was hurting so bad. Especially my hip.
Sweet darlin, I am okay. It was sweet of you.
I got terribly hurt. But it's okay.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

MTA Has a Rule

Little Miko was already running a bit late for work that morning. She waited for the notoriously unreliable L train for 15 minutes. A hint of dull pain stroked her stomach. The pain that comes with some shiver before an emergency situation—W.C. Little Miko needed to make an instant desicion whether to remain on her commute and hold it or to get outside and find a place to take care of business, which could cause further delay of her commute. She decided to leave the platform. After quickly coming back from a nearby cafe, refreshed, she returned to the subway station to find that her Metrocard didn't let her through the gate: "Just used." She returned before the 18-min interval was up. She spoke with the lady in the booth. The MTA BITCH (MTAB hereafter) told her the card couldn't be used for 18 minutes after used and she needed to inform the MTA personnel if she needed to come right back. Little Miko explained she was aware of the 18 min but, usually, they let her go through. MTAB went, "If you know the rule, you have to follow the rule." Regardless of Little Miko's plea, MTAB didn't let her pass but made her wait for another 8 minutes standing like a little kid.

How many people know this rule which isn't written anywhere but on the MTA's ugly website in the tiniest font in the hardest place to find. Who has time and space in their mind to go talk to the MTA person when he/she is in an emergency. MTAB should learn that there's something more important than simply following the rule; being reasonable. Little Miko couldn't help thinking that MTAB was overly unreasonable and ungenerous because she is a little Asian girl.

Matzah Ball Soup

Broadway in Williamsburg runs as a drawline between a hip youth neighborhood and one of the biggest Hasidic communities in the States. One block south of B'way can bring you into a very distinctive atmosphere. Men are dressed in black rekel suits with shtreimel hat. Ladies in the morning roam on the street with heibors, wearing a hair band usually in baby pink or blue—in a contrast with their dark, brown clothes.

I researched or actually tried a good Polish restaurant in and around Greenpoint, a pretty authentic Hispanic eatery in east Williamsburg/Bushwick, and covered most of the best restaurants in the central Williamsburg. Now it's time for a representative from the Jewish 'hood. I really don't know what Jewish (Hasidic Jewish) families have on a table. All I've heard is Matzah Ball Soup. Some web-browsing found out there is one deli that serves Kosher Matzah Ball Soup. Gottlib's is a laid-back deli opened since 1860s. The menu is almost multi-cultural: Chinese sesame chicken, Buffalo Wings, Hungarian Goulash, etc. The soft-spoken waiter suggest us start with the chicken soup, aka Matzah Ball Soup. The only way I can describe it is: the best chicken noodle soup I ever had. Matzah Ball is basically a dough made of flower and water, no flavor in and out of itself. Their soup has no veggies. Clear chicken broth with white noodles and white ball. It looks bland but the flavor was really hearty.

The price range of this deli is set a bit high for what they are. Perhaps due to the Kosher ingredients. But the soup is only $3.50. If you are in the hood and crave for a warm bowl of soup, try it out. It's a good dish for kids too.

Gottlieb's
352 Roebling St, Brooklyn 11211
At Division Ave
MAP