Re: At the End of the Night, I Still Choose Ben Lee.

I've lived in New York City for just under seven years. My first venture to a post office in the city was a realization of sorts: New York City is not New Hampshire.

The post offices in New York have bullet proof glass between you and the post office worker. I never understood why, until I witnessed customers going totally psycho over the wait to get to a window. I have witnessed this level of psychosis multiple times and always laughed it off. My first incident was on 14th Street when a French guy started screaming "down with America! vive la France!" after being in line too long. I mean, I get it...I was five people behind him when he yelled this and had already been in line for 30 minutes...

Due to the recession, the usual post office our office frequents, was closed back in July. It was a mere block and half away, and while the lines there were reminiscent of lines for Cabbage Patch Kids during the early 80's, I would always go, take a Xanax and wait...calmly, while I watched others fall apart: shift in their stance, sigh loudly, throw their phones, scream at the workers and demand that another window be opened. Of course, another window was never opened...while there were eight windows that could be in use, no more than two were ever open...no matter the line of people waiting to take care of their business.

Today, however, thanks to the closing of the post office on Greene Street, I had to venture to the one on Canal Street. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Canal Street, it's a nightmare. It's the main drag in Chinatown and you can't even walk down there without being tossed around by tourists who are looking to score fake Louis Vuitton bags...we're talking obese women from the midwest in scrunchies! Yes, scrunchies, my friends!

When I got there shortly before 3pm, the line was long, almost out the door long. I spend the majority of my life not really being in rush, so lines don't faze me. I tossed on my iPod, put it to "favourites" and let Shout Out Louds, Alcoholic Faith Mission, Daredevil Christopher Wright, Grizzly Bear, Noise Addict, The Rural Albert Advantage, and Godspeed You Black Emepror guide me. Amazingly, I was subdued. I stood in that line for one hour and 45 minutes with one tiny piece of mail in my hand that needed to be registered, but it was okay thanks to these bands...

I guess what I'm saying, is when in doubt turn to music. Having been a DJ in college, music has always been my solace. Music is the one thing that effects me deeper than all else...my mood can change on a dime because of a song I hear...so if you're ever stuck in a post office line on Canal Street, I suggest you bring your iPod...even if you find solace in Jay-Z or his better half Beyonce, post office lines are nothing when you have the right soundtrack...

In celebration of amazing bands, I can be spotted at the Music Hall of Williamsburg every night this week for CMJ...I'm the girl with the boy short hair and a furrow in her brow...

xo.

Mandy.