I caught this ostensibly homeless woman (complete with her own portable velvet rope!) on an uptown R last week. Her message deserves to be shared.
I can honestly say that adding to this woman's pile was the furthest thing from my mind. Such entitlement!
I like her legwarmers
Posted by: moss | January 21, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Yuk, she is wearing crocs...
Her message is very clear.
Posted by: Holy Cuteness | January 21, 2009 at 01:05 PM
You should submit this to PassiveAggressiveNotes.com
Posted by: Steele | January 21, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Wow, "absolutely, completely, explicitly, precisely." NO NO NO! I also like "I sue against dumping."
Posted by: Emma | January 21, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Wow, she really challenges the old saying "beggars can't be choosers". I love her little private seat and roped off area - so industrious!
Posted by: Linds | January 21, 2009 at 01:42 PM
This is amazing. God bless NYC!
Posted by: rachael | January 21, 2009 at 01:47 PM
whoaa. seems like it might've been dangerous just photographing this scene.
Posted by: sarah | January 21, 2009 at 01:53 PM
i'd be more concerned about what she might give others...or what she might leave behind on the seat or floor
Posted by: rach | January 21, 2009 at 02:07 PM
I agree with Sarah. Did she even notice that you were taking photos?
Posted by: Lizzy | January 21, 2009 at 02:14 PM
She probably has more cash than I do currently. shit.
Posted by: Noel Brinkley | January 21, 2009 at 02:40 PM
wow - and I thought Winnipeg did homeless to another level...I do appreciate her velvet rope!
Does she live on the train? (are people allowed to do that?) or does she tie and retie that rope everywhere she goes?
Posted by: Cheryl | January 21, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Whatever it is I want it NOT.
I appreciate her attention to proper spelling.
Posted by: carole | January 21, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Shit, I thought you lived in LA!
Posted by: Tami | January 21, 2009 at 03:38 PM
I second the suggestion that this should be submitted to passiveagressivenotes.com at once.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 21, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Truly, Rich, you expand my horizons. I thought taking cold water and sandwiches up to the gypsies and their dog at the local stoplight this summer and having a chat about this and that was helping to do that. Between rebel flags on the Jersey shore, Schappell twins sightings, demented day parks, and now an apparently homeless woman demanding that you give her nothing, I feel like a woman of the world. There is just so much awesome stuff out there that I'm missing. Thank goodness you're here! Way to take care of us shut-ins, Rich. You continue to rock.
Posted by: torrinpaige | January 21, 2009 at 04:08 PM
You need to submit this to passiveaggressivenotes.com; they will love it!!
Posted by: Jen | January 21, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Mental illness is a stone-cold bitch.
Posted by: chris | January 21, 2009 at 06:55 PM
I'm amazed she let you take her pic
Posted by: Thunderkit | January 21, 2009 at 07:50 PM
One October day in 1984, I was walking down Market Street in San Francisco and I was suddenly accosted by a homeless woman. I was just out shopping and all of a sudden she starts yelling at me, telling me that I was a rude bitch and how could I have done what I did? When I asked what it was I had done, she pointed out the chalk marks on the sidewalk she'd drawn in the form of a floor plan. It was the condo she was now living in. I had walked right through the outside wall of her kitchen, through a small closet and then out the wall of her dining room. My curiousity seemed to appease her a bit because she then told me I was lucky to be alive since she lived on the 14th foor. "You coulda broken yer neck!"
Well, I felt so guilty for all the property damage I had done I went to the nearby Merrill's and bought her batteries for the portable vacuum she complained didn't work. We got it working and sure enough, she went about her housekeeping.
Later that day, in the same neighborhood, I was approached by a seemingly friendly elderly woman in Woolworths. She sweetly asked "By any chance, are you French?" I was a little startled and amused by the question and I told her "Well, there's some French on my father's side". She then smiled, patted me on the shoulder and said "Well, thank you for the Statue of Liberty" and walked away.
Now tell me, were they crazy? Or was I?
Posted by: Dolores Blecher | January 21, 2009 at 07:57 PM
I agree with Chris. Mental Illness is heartless.
Posted by: Washington Cube | January 21, 2009 at 08:02 PM
I COMPLETELY saw this lady on an R train the other day. No joke, Rich, I know exactly the one you mean. Same blue Crocs and hoodie. She was tooting idly into a harmonica.
All I could do was feel really, really bad for her. There's no way this is a sane, happy individual.
Posted by: T. | January 21, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Okay... long time reader, first time commenter. And I'm not even writing to say that you're awesome and brave to take those pictures of that fierce bitch on the train, Rich. Nope, I'm writing to comment on a comment! Specifically Dolores. I seriously just laughed until I couldn't breathe anymore. That was quite possibly the funniest thing I've read in a long ass time, and I thank you for that.
Posted by: Joy | January 21, 2009 at 08:18 PM
I have to see this woman! I thought I had encountered all of the characters on the NYC subway, it never ends.
Posted by: nate | January 21, 2009 at 09:38 PM
Brenda: Chris I'm begging you, it's really scary here. I've just seen three people shoot up, a bald Chinese lady with no pants on, and there's this old guy outside who wants his bedroom slippers!
Old Man: [banging on telephone booth] Get out of my house!
Brenda: [kicks out a small box and the guy's slippers] You just moved!
Posted by: Joshua | January 21, 2009 at 09:48 PM
thas mah train SAY HAYYYyYYYy4!!!
Posted by: Rob R | January 21, 2009 at 10:07 PM