I thought I would be hip this year by sending text messages to my friends when midnight struck on New Year's Eve. Unfortunately, technology didn't cooperate.

Usually, text messages take between 10 and 60 seconds to reach the recipient. This time, however, apparently due to severe congestion on cell phone networks, they took much longer. One message to a friend on Verizon Wireless took 36 minutes. Another took almost 7 hours. Messages to friends on Cingular took 6 hours in one case and 10 in another. Messages to T-Mobile were simply rejected.

On another note, I've been enjoying my inclement weather alternative of the 80th Street NYSC. It's further away than 73rd Street, but the key is that it's right off a subway stop just two stops away. The layout is less convenient than that of 73rd Street--everything is spread out among 4 floors--but it's fine and a refreshing change. You have to love that the scent of H&H Bagels (located below) rises right into the corner of the 2nd floor cardio area.