Okay, so it took me until this morning, after seeing the commercial about ten times, to finally understand the new Energizer commercial. I thought the bunny was one of the participants in the class, and that he just lasts longer than everyone else. But I just realized that he’s teaching the class, and that everyone’s movements in the class are just like the movements of the Energizer bunny.

This is how slow I am, folks.

I had a dream in which my friend Nicole was on a family vacation with me. I think we were in Vancouver. Anyway, we both had these new cameraphones that took really great pictures. Every time she took a picture, though, she had to write about the picture for a school report. And then I had to look over what she’d written, critique it, and sign off on it (like a parent reading a rough draft). I think it means that my friends are too young.

In a city that supposedly doesn’t sleep, how come every store closes early? Like why does Staples close at 8 o’clock every night, and why doesn’t the drug store stay open 24 hours a day? And why do all the post offices have last pickup at 6 o’clock? I mean, it’s great that all of the bars are open until 4, but what if I need something–anything–other than an alcoholic drink between the hours of 8 in the evening and 4 in the morning?

At this rate, I’m pretty sure the iPod that’s unveiled this time next year will hold every song ever recorded, will be able to drive your car, and will be too small to see with the naked eye. Unfortunately, even at a reasonable $299, no one will be able to afford the new iPod because of the enormous debt everyone will be in after buying each of the previous five hundred iPod versions.

Apparently there will be an ice skating rink in Bryant Park this winter. Sure, there’s already one at Rockefeller Center, and there are a couple in Central Park, but this one is better. It’s free.

The Pond at Bryant Park, scheduled to open on Oct. 28, will be a portable, Olympic-size rink large enough for 500 skaters to pirouette upon (or slip and fall) among the high-rises of Midtown Manhattan. A rarity among the handful of ice rinks in Manhattan, it will have no admission charge… [Read more.]

Skate rentals will be a hefty $7.50, but that’s about the same everywhere, and the lack of an admission charge way more than makes up for it.

This is extremely cool: Not only does NYSee incorporate with Google Maps to let you look at live traffic cams around the city, it also lets you click any point on a street or avenue to see the “Blockview Photo” from A9. The photos are at least a year old, so the stores you see aren’t necessarily the ones that are there, but it’s still a helpful tool.

Last Friday night, Brad, Deirdre, and I went to the Figli di San Gennaro, which is a carnival that takes over Little Italy once a year. Imagine the tiny, crowded streets of Little Italy, except now the streets are lined with booths, including the kind where you have to throw a baseball into a milk jug to win a prize, or throw a baseball at a target to dunk a clown, or throw a baseball to see how fast you can throw a baseball. They also had rides, including a Ferris Wheel, but those were really sketchy, so we stuck with side show attractions and fried oreos.

I’ve had a lot of work to do at work lately. I like it though. It keeps me mentally active. And stuff.

Ash and I decided we’re going to try using zipcar. It’s an hourly (or daily, if you prefer) car rental service that’s way cheaper than the other car rental companies in the city, and you can reserve a car online or by phone and then unlock it immediately with your “zipcard.” And they have cars in parking garages all over the city, so it’s easy to find a car that’s within walking distance.

Now that I’m a member, if anyone else wants to join, I can give you $25 in zipcar bucks. Just use coupon code OIJRBOON when you apply.

We’re going to pick up a car tomorrow afternoon and drive along the coast of Long Island. And then we’re either going to Cheesecake Factory, Chili’s, or PF Chang’s. Hooray for California food!

Welcome to September. In California, I always hated September because it was merely an extension of August: very hot. But here in New York, I’m optimistic that September will be what it sounds like: a transition into fall. The air will be less humid, evenings will be cooler, and maybe a leaf or two will change color in anticipation of the beautiful October.