One of the few things I miss about Seattle is the Mariners. I mean, what a good-spirited team. Over here they're crazy about baseball - it's on everyone's lips all the time. And now I think I know why. Hell, even though we love to hate the Yankees, they do play some good ball some of the time, as evidenced by last night's 12:30am win against the Sox. But I guess what was even more satisfying was watching a Boone hit the winning run. Picked up from Cincinnati earlier this year, Bret's bro Aaron hit the ball with the same charisma as his Mariner brother, and ran the bases like a little kid. It was like watching someone realize he'd made the big time, winning the pennant for the Yankees. And that was good baseball. They even panned the camera to Bret, standing in the booth all gussied up, watching and smiling as Aaron ran into the crowd at home plate. My neighborhood erupted, and about 40 minutes later when the subways started letting off people who'd come from the Bronx, it got louder still.
While I would consider myself a Mariners fan, I'm happy to say I'm finally in a city where I get to see a World Series, and I get to watch another Boone play ball. But man, if only they had played the Ms for the pennant would I have begged, borrowed and stolen to get in to watch *those* games!
Friday, October 17, 2003
Monday, October 13, 2003
Three weeks in...
I hate those letters that come from your aunt Sue's best friend's cousin Angela, the one related to Heather Langenkamp's ex-boyfriend's sister's waxer - you know, the ones that say...
And little Bobby joined the Little Peanuts Allstar Soccer team this summer and scored his first big goal in last Thursday's game. Eugene, our dear friend from Long Island (visiting while trying to take a break from his well-paying but soul sucking job as a day trader) was there to videotape (don't we all love digital?) little Bobby's reaction! We have enclosed the momentous event on a CD for your enjoyment, as Eugene was kind enough to send the tape to Harold (you all remember Harold, don't you? Our Thanksgiving '88 friend who dropped in only to vomit Grandma's peas and yams later while walking down the corridor on our beautiful new Berber rug?), who is a film projectionist at the local indie film theater. He's also a graduate film student whose project it has been to transfer old super-8 films from a personal collection of a famous person (he won't tell us who, but that this person was very famous sometime in the 70s)...
Misery, getting those from long-lost friends we all wish could find a better use for their time.
So here's a brief report, three weeks in! HA HA HA HA HA! Enjoy.
- Climbed the last 8 floors to the observation platform on the Empire State Building. Oh yeah, and sent e-mail from up there.
- Shopped at the 'world's largest department store' - Macy's. Of course, I think the KaDeWe in Berlin is bigger, but damn! this Macy's is big.
- Ate Blue Point oysters at the oyster bar in the basement of Grand Central Station
- Tyler's band had their first BIG GIG at the Monkey Pub in the U-Dist in Seattle, and I heard it was a smash hit! His grandma showed up and showed them how to rock out, dancing in the crowds with all of the young'uns, to her devil-boy grandson's slapping phat bass!
- Dined on Tony Bourdain's Steak Frites at Les Halles, courtesy of my best pal, Jessica, who works at JPMorgan Chase, and who was up here for a few days this week (and who fed me all week, including munchies on lobster benedict, with lemon brioche!)
- Ate the most scrummy haricotes verts at Balthazar, in SoHo
- Bought chocolates from Les Vosges, this new designer choco place. I bought 2 flavors, milk chocolate curry (an indian curry), and dark chocolate wasabi, topped with black sesame seeds. Very nice.
- Was overwhelmed at Zabar's. Totally. Check it out. www.zabars.com
- Stood amongst the Egyptian ruins at the Met. This was so spectacular I nearly cried. And I cursed when we found out the Frank Lloyd Wright gallery was closed that morning. And I hardly noticed as I charged through rooms filled with Caravaggio, Renoir, Cassat, and oh yeah - a just-opened traveling exhibit of El Greco. Nice stuff.
- Missed my honey and my pooch, lots. And spent a lot on phone bills, I'm sure.
- Stood next to the lions at the New York Public Library and mused on the geography represented in Logan's Run.
- Bought 3 black-market pornos from little old Chinese men in Chinatown, to send in a care package along with tasty Turkish pistachios to someone much in need of a little...affection. He said one of them was rather...clinical! Turned out the squealing on the tapes made Grendel woof.
- Went to the Bronx and discovered it's quite a nice place, contrary to the Charles Bronson image of Fort Apache, the Bronx.
- Saw Kill Bill, and yes - paid whopping NYC ticket prices. Well, actually, Jessica paid - but I've seen 3 movies here already and it's a TOTAL ripoff. And I have a lot to say about this movie.
- At midnight, ate escargots and mussels with my Mom while drinking vodka tonics and single malt scotch.
- Had another job interview, and the first *still* hasn't called back. Nor has this one.
- Took the *free* Staten Island ferry to SI and passed the amazingly tiny Statue of Liberty. You know, with all of the flyovers of the Statue of Liberty at the beginning of David Letterman, I thought she was gigantic. This is why I wondered why they didn't try to crash the planes into her on 9/11. Now I know she's not all that big. Know the scene in Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring, when they're entering that river valley and it's bordered on both banks with those HUGE statues? That's what I thought it was like. Like the Colossus of Rhodes. I was a little disappointed, but it was still cool.
- Applied for the coolest software job I've yet seen, one that convinced me the business could still be worth another look. I just hope I get a call back (everyone, cross your fingers!!). And a big thank you to Kim, who put me onto it, and Richard, her husband who I'm sure she needled into calling them on my behalf. I am most grateful. And will feed you when you get here.
- Opened a new checking account, and I'm getting my financial house back in order!!!!
- Learned a new airline travel rule: if you don't call them to tell them you're not going to show up, you forfeit your ticket. It used to be you could use it later, pay for the change and a penalty, without calling or showing up. Now, if you don't call or show up, you lose it. Period. So I had to buy a one-way ticket back to Sea-town, which turned out cheaper than changing my existing ticket, had it been valid. How weird is that???? Cool, but weird.
- Heard from my good friend Dylan, who's living in Hamburg, for those interested.
Think of this message (and those like it) as a little glimpse into my writing process, for those of you who know I'm working on a book. And you might also want to think of it as an executive communique, because all of you are my investors of sorts, and I'm hoping you'd like to know how your little investment is paying off.
There, there. I'll be back in a few weeks to pick up stuff, hoping the whole job thing goes as planned. Love to all of you, miss you tons. More in a few weeks!
And little Bobby joined the Little Peanuts Allstar Soccer team this summer and scored his first big goal in last Thursday's game. Eugene, our dear friend from Long Island (visiting while trying to take a break from his well-paying but soul sucking job as a day trader) was there to videotape (don't we all love digital?) little Bobby's reaction! We have enclosed the momentous event on a CD for your enjoyment, as Eugene was kind enough to send the tape to Harold (you all remember Harold, don't you? Our Thanksgiving '88 friend who dropped in only to vomit Grandma's peas and yams later while walking down the corridor on our beautiful new Berber rug?), who is a film projectionist at the local indie film theater. He's also a graduate film student whose project it has been to transfer old super-8 films from a personal collection of a famous person (he won't tell us who, but that this person was very famous sometime in the 70s)...
Misery, getting those from long-lost friends we all wish could find a better use for their time.
So here's a brief report, three weeks in! HA HA HA HA HA! Enjoy.
- Climbed the last 8 floors to the observation platform on the Empire State Building. Oh yeah, and sent e-mail from up there.
- Shopped at the 'world's largest department store' - Macy's. Of course, I think the KaDeWe in Berlin is bigger, but damn! this Macy's is big.
- Ate Blue Point oysters at the oyster bar in the basement of Grand Central Station
- Tyler's band had their first BIG GIG at the Monkey Pub in the U-Dist in Seattle, and I heard it was a smash hit! His grandma showed up and showed them how to rock out, dancing in the crowds with all of the young'uns, to her devil-boy grandson's slapping phat bass!
- Dined on Tony Bourdain's Steak Frites at Les Halles, courtesy of my best pal, Jessica, who works at JPMorgan Chase, and who was up here for a few days this week (and who fed me all week, including munchies on lobster benedict, with lemon brioche!)
- Ate the most scrummy haricotes verts at Balthazar, in SoHo
- Bought chocolates from Les Vosges, this new designer choco place. I bought 2 flavors, milk chocolate curry (an indian curry), and dark chocolate wasabi, topped with black sesame seeds. Very nice.
- Was overwhelmed at Zabar's. Totally. Check it out. www.zabars.com
- Stood amongst the Egyptian ruins at the Met. This was so spectacular I nearly cried. And I cursed when we found out the Frank Lloyd Wright gallery was closed that morning. And I hardly noticed as I charged through rooms filled with Caravaggio, Renoir, Cassat, and oh yeah - a just-opened traveling exhibit of El Greco. Nice stuff.
- Missed my honey and my pooch, lots. And spent a lot on phone bills, I'm sure.
- Stood next to the lions at the New York Public Library and mused on the geography represented in Logan's Run.
- Bought 3 black-market pornos from little old Chinese men in Chinatown, to send in a care package along with tasty Turkish pistachios to someone much in need of a little...affection. He said one of them was rather...clinical! Turned out the squealing on the tapes made Grendel woof.
- Went to the Bronx and discovered it's quite a nice place, contrary to the Charles Bronson image of Fort Apache, the Bronx.
- Saw Kill Bill, and yes - paid whopping NYC ticket prices. Well, actually, Jessica paid - but I've seen 3 movies here already and it's a TOTAL ripoff. And I have a lot to say about this movie.
- At midnight, ate escargots and mussels with my Mom while drinking vodka tonics and single malt scotch.
- Had another job interview, and the first *still* hasn't called back. Nor has this one.
- Took the *free* Staten Island ferry to SI and passed the amazingly tiny Statue of Liberty. You know, with all of the flyovers of the Statue of Liberty at the beginning of David Letterman, I thought she was gigantic. This is why I wondered why they didn't try to crash the planes into her on 9/11. Now I know she's not all that big. Know the scene in Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring, when they're entering that river valley and it's bordered on both banks with those HUGE statues? That's what I thought it was like. Like the Colossus of Rhodes. I was a little disappointed, but it was still cool.
- Applied for the coolest software job I've yet seen, one that convinced me the business could still be worth another look. I just hope I get a call back (everyone, cross your fingers!!). And a big thank you to Kim, who put me onto it, and Richard, her husband who I'm sure she needled into calling them on my behalf. I am most grateful. And will feed you when you get here.
- Opened a new checking account, and I'm getting my financial house back in order!!!!
- Learned a new airline travel rule: if you don't call them to tell them you're not going to show up, you forfeit your ticket. It used to be you could use it later, pay for the change and a penalty, without calling or showing up. Now, if you don't call or show up, you lose it. Period. So I had to buy a one-way ticket back to Sea-town, which turned out cheaper than changing my existing ticket, had it been valid. How weird is that???? Cool, but weird.
- Heard from my good friend Dylan, who's living in Hamburg, for those interested.
Think of this message (and those like it) as a little glimpse into my writing process, for those of you who know I'm working on a book. And you might also want to think of it as an executive communique, because all of you are my investors of sorts, and I'm hoping you'd like to know how your little investment is paying off.
There, there. I'll be back in a few weeks to pick up stuff, hoping the whole job thing goes as planned. Love to all of you, miss you tons. More in a few weeks!
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
At the end of the first week...
Wanted to let you know I got here okay, and I've just finished the end
of my first week living in New York!
The first few days were a little stressful, but all in all it's been
good so far...
I've done the usual tourista things...and some not so usual...
- walked across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning
- ate a bagel and cream cheese down at the federal courthouse
- ate a pastrami sandwich at Katz's (oh my GAWD!)
- ate dim sum and noodles in Chinatown
- bought cookies at Dean & Deluca
- rented a flophouse room for 2 hours for some privacy with my honey
- interviewed at a good job
- bought bagels at 130am from H&H Midtown bagels
- watched a hundred tweens scream when Carson Daly walked into the MTV
studios
- was engulfed by neon in Times Square
- have found a few places to dash to the can in an emergency, for
under a buck
- went to Ground Zero
- fought over discount designer duds at Century 21
- figured out the subway system
- found a private place to neck, in a very public park
- ate dinner at a celebrity chef's restaurant
- toured the French Culinary Institute and ate at their restaurant
(man o man, you AIS people have NO idea how good it can be!!)
- discovered, back in Seattle, that my last paycheck by my FAVORITE
employer was not direct deposited, and thus allowed me to have a
whopping number of overdrafts!
- discovered there are no B of A banks or Wells Fargos here in town,
and very few fee-free ATMs
- discovered nobody takes credit cards, it seems
- discovered taxis are a cash-only affair, unlike in SEA
- rode out to JFK this morning for a teary-eyed goodbye for now
- have not been carded anywhere, and it doesn't seem that bars or
liquor stores ever close
- discovered something very funny about the state of the porn industry
here
- walked through tons of doggie-friendly parks
- didn't scream upon my first encounter with a large rat, or a small
mouse
I know, I know. Sounds like a lot. That doesn't include all of the
walking, drinking, and whatnot one does when trying to get accustomed
to a new place, even if it's just as a tourist.
I'll be here for a month, back around the end of October for a little
time with Tyler (before he leaves for Portugal) and then for a drive
back to NYC. The first day we were here - well, the first 3, actually -
it was hot (80s) and muggy (100 percent humidity). Since Monday, it's
been in the mid- to low-60s. Fall has arrived, I've heard on the lips
of the people here.
After a much heated debate (argument?) with my grandmother this
evening, I was finally 'released' from the house to go see a movie,
which I did by myself. Most happily, I might add. There's something to
staying in a sterile old folks home, sleeping on the linoleum, which
gives me the creeps and makes me feel like a shut-in. Oh yeah, and the
shower wasn't working until this morning. I promised Tyler I'd do my
best to make this quite thorny situation tolerable, because the rents
are still really high, and it's hard for me to commit without a firm
job offer. And for those of you who had heard about the restaurant PR
position, they haven't gotten back to me after my interview on Monday.
I'm a little bummed about it, but I have another on Friday, so I'll
deal. Anything to get me out of here, and let me start living like a
normal person again.
And for those interested...
Babbo, Saturday night.
Appetizers: BBQed octopus (AMAZING, I SWEAR!!!!), lamb's tongue salad
with a 3-minute egg, duck bacon, and a bit of pecorino, and a plate of
marinated sardines with a nice radish salad.
Entrees: fennel dusted sweetbreads (I didn't know these were glands,
not brains!) served with candied dried orange peel (and lastly) goose
liver ravioli served in a reduced basalmic sauce.
Dessert: zucchini spice cake with lemon olive oil gelato + espresso
It's not too bad up here, the pace is definitely different. A weekend
in Seattle might be positively relaxing!
I'll try to keep you all posted on the goings-on, the progress on the
book (a MAJOR setback today), the job search, and hopefully soon, my
new address (AKA your NYC crash pad).
of my first week living in New York!
The first few days were a little stressful, but all in all it's been
good so far...
I've done the usual tourista things...and some not so usual...
- walked across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning
- ate a bagel and cream cheese down at the federal courthouse
- ate a pastrami sandwich at Katz's (oh my GAWD!)
- ate dim sum and noodles in Chinatown
- bought cookies at Dean & Deluca
- rented a flophouse room for 2 hours for some privacy with my honey
- interviewed at a good job
- bought bagels at 130am from H&H Midtown bagels
- watched a hundred tweens scream when Carson Daly walked into the MTV
studios
- was engulfed by neon in Times Square
- have found a few places to dash to the can in an emergency, for
under a buck
- went to Ground Zero
- fought over discount designer duds at Century 21
- figured out the subway system
- found a private place to neck, in a very public park
- ate dinner at a celebrity chef's restaurant
- toured the French Culinary Institute and ate at their restaurant
(man o man, you AIS people have NO idea how good it can be!!)
- discovered, back in Seattle, that my last paycheck by my FAVORITE
employer was not direct deposited, and thus allowed me to have a
whopping number of overdrafts!
- discovered there are no B of A banks or Wells Fargos here in town,
and very few fee-free ATMs
- discovered nobody takes credit cards, it seems
- discovered taxis are a cash-only affair, unlike in SEA
- rode out to JFK this morning for a teary-eyed goodbye for now
- have not been carded anywhere, and it doesn't seem that bars or
liquor stores ever close
- discovered something very funny about the state of the porn industry
here
- walked through tons of doggie-friendly parks
- didn't scream upon my first encounter with a large rat, or a small
mouse
I know, I know. Sounds like a lot. That doesn't include all of the
walking, drinking, and whatnot one does when trying to get accustomed
to a new place, even if it's just as a tourist.
I'll be here for a month, back around the end of October for a little
time with Tyler (before he leaves for Portugal) and then for a drive
back to NYC. The first day we were here - well, the first 3, actually -
it was hot (80s) and muggy (100 percent humidity). Since Monday, it's
been in the mid- to low-60s. Fall has arrived, I've heard on the lips
of the people here.
After a much heated debate (argument?) with my grandmother this
evening, I was finally 'released' from the house to go see a movie,
which I did by myself. Most happily, I might add. There's something to
staying in a sterile old folks home, sleeping on the linoleum, which
gives me the creeps and makes me feel like a shut-in. Oh yeah, and the
shower wasn't working until this morning. I promised Tyler I'd do my
best to make this quite thorny situation tolerable, because the rents
are still really high, and it's hard for me to commit without a firm
job offer. And for those of you who had heard about the restaurant PR
position, they haven't gotten back to me after my interview on Monday.
I'm a little bummed about it, but I have another on Friday, so I'll
deal. Anything to get me out of here, and let me start living like a
normal person again.
And for those interested...
Babbo, Saturday night.
Appetizers: BBQed octopus (AMAZING, I SWEAR!!!!), lamb's tongue salad
with a 3-minute egg, duck bacon, and a bit of pecorino, and a plate of
marinated sardines with a nice radish salad.
Entrees: fennel dusted sweetbreads (I didn't know these were glands,
not brains!) served with candied dried orange peel (and lastly) goose
liver ravioli served in a reduced basalmic sauce.
Dessert: zucchini spice cake with lemon olive oil gelato + espresso
It's not too bad up here, the pace is definitely different. A weekend
in Seattle might be positively relaxing!
I'll try to keep you all posted on the goings-on, the progress on the
book (a MAJOR setback today), the job search, and hopefully soon, my
new address (AKA your NYC crash pad).
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