Then usual city things that may scare an out of towner don’t scare me. I don’t walk around with the fear of being mugged. This doesn’t mean I don’t think I’ll get mugged, attacked, or harrassed, but at this point staying aware is second nature to me. I hate crowds but since living in China – you think people in Chinatown are rude? imagine an entire overpopulated country FULL of such individuals – I’m not timid about pushing my way through. And I definitely don’t hold back from speaking up when I think I’m getting shoddy service.

But there are still some things that, often inexplicably, freak me out. And let the countdown begin.

10) People who wear sunglasses on the subway, or anywhere indoors. I guess this is more paranoia than fear. What are they looking at? Are they looking at me? Are their shades hiding their staring freakish eyes?

9) The possibility of being pushed onto the tracks. While I’m the subway kick. It’s happened. We’ve all read about it. The stories don’t stop me from walking along the edge to circumvent slow people, or leaning over to see if a train is coming, but once in a while, the thought strikes me: Someone could push me. But I don’t know if I’m more afraid of getting electrocuted/run over, or of all the muck – and not to mention rats! – in the tracks.

8) Salad bars at delis. I’d ask if people actually eat from these but I’ve seen them. With all the other kind of food available in the city, why would anyone choose to dine from this hot trough of often unidentifiable tidbits? Don’t ven get me started on the sneezeguard.

7) Pigeons anywhere near my face. Waddling on the street is okay, but when they decide to burst into flight right above my head, and it’s all germy wings and beaks, I’ll push my own mother out of the way to escape them.

6) Cosmetics people at Sak’s, Barney’s, or Bloomingdale’s. Leave me alone! I’m just passing through! Don’t look at me! DON’T LOOK AT ME!

5) The Rambles in Central Park. ‘Nuff said.

4) Garbage that may or may not resemble body parts. It was squishy looking. It was red. It was arm-shaped. Okay, moving on.

3) People dressed as animals. Okay, this is not specific to New York, but most of my encounters with such folk are at my company, which is very family friendly, hosting an “open house” the day before Christmas weekend in which life-size incarnations of Cookie Monster, Mickey Mouse, and Dora the Explorer entertain the kiddies. And scare the crap out of me.

2) Weird MySpace requests. Again, nothing to do with New York, but it just happened this morning. The most disconcerting one I’ve received was from a masked fellow with his profile set to private. Sure, I’ll be your friend!

And the number one thing that currently freaks me out in this city:

1) The guy with no legs who panhandles on the 6. The 6 may not be his only turf, and if it’s not, more power to him. You know who I’m talking about. No gams and no wheelchair, he scoots himself around on his stump of a body, pushing a makeshift dish for change in front of him. Sorry to be unsympathetic, but YIKES!

So there you have it, folks, my last list of 2006. Thank God, some of you are saying, but just think, there’s all of 2007 to bitch and whine.