✈️ New York Trip Update: Mother Nature Is Making Her Case
A couple of days ago, I wrote that I’m supposed to fly to New York this Saturday, landing at LaGuardia (LGA) and heading to Astoria, Queens for a yearly gathering.
At the time, the forecast called for about a 55% chance of rain.
I wasn't thrilled, but 55% still leaves room for negotiation.
Well...
Mother Nature has apparently retained counsel.
I checked the forecast again today.
🌧️ Saturday: 77% chance of rain.
⛈️ And now there are thunderstorms involved.
This negotiation is moving in the wrong direction.
Normally, I'd be excited about this trip. It's a nonstop flight. I get to see people I haven't seen in a while. And most importantly, I'd be returning to Queens—the magical land of real bagels, real pizza, and enough incredible food to destroy any reasonable eating plan within approximately four hours of landing.
But here's my problem:
I'm not flying to New York just so I can sit in a hotel room and say:
"Yep. That's definitely rain."
I can watch rain from home.
For free.
And I don't have to deal with airports, flight delays, Uber surge pricing, wet sidewalks, or trying to maneuver around New York City while Mother Nature dumps buckets of water on everyone.
There's also the airport factor.
Rain and thunderstorms in the New York area don't exactly have a reputation for making air travel more efficient. Suddenly my beautiful nonstop flight could become an exciting afternoon of staring at an airport departure board while the word DELAYED slowly destroys my will to live.
The good news?
The forecast could still change.
The bad news?
It already changed—from 55% rain to 77%.
That's not the direction I was hoping for.
So, the great Will Niel Actually Go to New York? saga continues.
The flight is still scheduled.
Astoria is still waiting.
The bagels are presumably still delicious.
The pizza is calling my name.
But at 77% rain with thunderstorms, those bagels are going to have to make a very persuasive argument.
Stay tuned.
✈️ New York This Weekend… Maybe. Mother Nature Has Entered the Chat.
This Saturday, I’m supposed to be flying to New York—LaGuardia (LGA), specifically—then heading over to Astoria, Queens for a yearly gathering.
Normally, I’d be excited.
It’s a nonstop flight, which already makes the trip significantly more appealing. No sprinting through Atlanta. No sitting in Charlotte wondering why my connecting flight has changed gates four times. Just get on the plane, land at LGA, and head into Queens.
And then there’s Queens itself.
The bagels. The pizza. The Greek food in Astoria. The seemingly endless supply of carbohydrates that somehow taste better once you cross into New York City.
I grew up in New York, so there’s also something familiar about going back. Even if the trip is short, there’s always a little nostalgia mixed in with the carbohydrates.
There is, however, one potential problem:
The weather.
Right now, Saturday is looking a little questionable, with about a 55% chance of rain throughout the day.
Now, I’m willing to travel for a good bagel.
I’m willing to travel for New York pizza.
I’m willing to tolerate LGA, traffic, questionable drivers, expensive everything, and the possibility that someone will honk at me for absolutely no reason.
What I’m not particularly interested in doing is flying all the way to Queens just to spend the day staring out of a hotel-room window watching rain fall.
I can sit inside and watch rain in South Carolina. It’s significantly cheaper.
Of course, weather forecasts several days out have approximately the same reliability as some dating profiles: interesting information, but I'm not making major life decisions based on them just yet.
So, for now, the trip is still on.
The suitcase isn't packed.
The bagel order hasn't been placed.
And I'm watching that forecast.
Will I be eating pizza in Astoria this weekend?
Or will I be sitting comfortably at home thinking about the money I saved by not flying to New York to watch it rain?
Stay tuned.
From Flushing to Westbury: When Home Makes the Wrong List
Every once in a while, something pops up on social media that makes you stop scrolling.
I recently watched this Facebook Reel:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/861451983514866
As I watched it, one thing immediately caught my attention—and not in a good way.
The first city mentioned in the reel was Westbury, New York.
That one hit a little differently.
I was born in Flushing, Queens, but I grew up in Westbury. That wasn't just a place on a map—it was home.
I attended the Westbury Public Schools.
I worked on Post Avenue.
I delivered newspapers through the neighborhoods.
I spent countless hours walking those streets, making friends, growing up, and creating memories that still stick with me today.
No town is perfect. Every community has challenges, and every place changes over time. But when the very first thing people hear about a town is something negative, it's disappointing for those of us who remember so many good moments there.
When I think of Westbury, I don't immediately think about headlines.
I think about riding my bike.
I think about neighbors.
I think about school.
I think about my first jobs.
I think about learning responsibility by delivering newspapers, long before GPS and smartphones existed.
Those experiences helped shape who I am today.
Maybe that's why this reel struck a nerve. It's a reminder that a city is much more than whatever story happens to be trending online at the moment.
To everyone who grew up in Westbury, I'd love to hear what you remember most. What was your favorite place? What do you miss? What memories still make you smile?
Take a look at the reel and let me know your thoughts:
Celebrity Row or Carpetbaggers? Riding the Coattails of Lifelong New York Fans
What makes someone a real New Yorker?
Is it the ZIP code on your driver's license? The number of years you've lived in the city? Or is it something much deeper?
From Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden to celebrity superfans suddenly embracing New York teams, I dive into one of my most unpopular opinions yet. I talk about lifelong allegiances, sports culture, and whether some famous faces are simply riding the coattails of generations of diehard New York fans.
Expect sarcasm, nostalgia, and a few laughs along the way.
Think I'm wrong? You're probably not alone.
Watch the full video and decide for yourself: