"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere...." You know that line, from the song "New York, New York." Well, I am now totally convinced that this is true. I'm amazed at what my body is capable of after this blackout.

Take a look at this map. The power went out in our building in Hoboken, and soon as my co-worker Jennifer and I heard power was out in NYC too, we fled. We hopped on a ferry (no trains running) that dropped us off at the World Financial Center (area 1 on the map). From there, I walked through the biggest crush of people I've ever seen in my life, all the way to Chelsea, area 9. As I walked through Chinatown I saw some women taking off their heels and buying flat sandals from a little Asian girl yelling "Five Dolla! Five Dolla!" People were filming the crush of people walking up Broadway, they were taking pictures, drinking beers in the street. I realized I'd better duck into a deli and try to buy some water, but all the delis were dark and crowded with people who had the same idea. I finally found one not so crowded and grabbed two 1-quart bottles. I was afraid the water would be sold out, but everyone in line was stocking up on tall boys and Corona's, not Poland Spring, so I was all set.

An hour and half after getting off the ferry, I arrive at G's office, where I proceeded up 15 flights of stairs with the water and a flashlight borrowed from the front desk. Thank god he was there. I was delirious from the heat. My body was operating on a super reserve of adrenalin. I refueled on Skittles, Doritos, Corona, and water. That was all we had.

Around 7:30 we realize the power is not coming back on anytime soon (our only source of news was to call family members outside the city who were watching the news; I have no idea how the phone was even working), so G and I begin the trek to Brooklyn. We walked from area 9 on the map, over the Brooklyn Bridge, to area 17, Cobble Hill. My body was seriously propelled by some super human energy store; I'm amazed that I made it. I was really nervous going over the bridge so we kept up a good clip. At the end of the bridge was Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz with a bullhorn shouting "Welcome to Brooklyn! Welcome Home!" It actually really lifted my spirits to see him doing that.

We finally staggered home about an hour and a half after beginning our walk, took cold showers, drank some water, and collapsed into bed. The power finally came on at 8 am. We were reading the Times on a bench outside a deli near our house, trying to see for the first time what the hell had actually happened, when the lights came on and a cheer went up from the people on the sidewalks.

I don't know if that map can actually convey how much walking I did yesterday. Now, I am normally winded after five flights of stairs alone. I must have been kept going by just the sheer insanity all around me. When Jennifer and I first got off the ferry there was a limo with it's door wide open, with a radio playing the news. We crowded around the door with a bunch of other people to hear what was going on. I was a little surprised by how few cops I saw taking charge of things. I saw a civilian directing traffic. I guess the cops and firefighters must have been busy prying people out of elevators and subways. When it got dark I saw people here and there with those neon glowing plastic necklaces, like you used to get at Canobie Lake Park. I really wanted one!

Anyway, work is closed today, thank goodness. I feel half sick from eating so much crap yesterday and having a fitfull sleep. Hopefully tonight restaurants will be up and running again so we can go get a good meal. I also hope I'll be able to pay my friends at "Best Chinese Backrub" on Thompson Street a visit tomorrow, as I can already feel my muscles seizing up.