The school I was in when it happened is about two miles away (under that smoke trail) and I lived about ten miles away (also under that smoke trial).
I was nearby under the dust cloud as well -- living in our loft/office in Chinatown where we were still folding our startup up after the market collapse a year prior. I was taking a shower when I heard the first plane hit. I thought it was a construction accident until my roommate knocked on the bathroom door and told me that the world trade center is blowing up or something. I remember thinking, "Again?"