they say new yorkers are the rudest most unfriendly people you ever want to meet (even counting the french!).

i'd like to point out that this random guy walked by me in the park the other night and told me to have a lovely evening. that another guy held the train door for me as i ducked in. the girl who served us at pinkberry (most delicious frozen yogurt EVER, by the way) was friendly (and gave us free samples!).

lately, though, i'm starting to think that maybe i notice these little incidents because they are indeed so rare. i didn't mention the shouting match between our taxi driver and the traffic cop or the taxi that almost ran me off the road or the person on the train who shoved someone and got an earful.

and then there's my friend, a new yorker who recently visited the midwest. and hated it.

"everyone walks around with this stupid vapid smile on their face," she grumbled to me. "what the %*#$ are they smiling about, anyway?"

i've also discovered that we start the grumpy at a young age here in the city. i just received a donated book for the library called "let's learn f words."

just wait till these kids start taking taxis.