A first for the resident CTO of Binkomonster. Editing, and writing away while on a plane... speeding away from sunny CA to very cold NYC. Home of Gothamist, Gawker, Daily Candy, and all the other interesting NYC blogs that we read.
It has been an interesting, and good, 9 days. Work has been the usual drag and rant-fest, but then, we've given up hope of having any expectation that things will miraculously lighten and change for the better. The enjoyment garnered out of the last week has been having our friends/neighbors over for dinner, and just relaxing over some wine, cigars, scotch and great conversation. It's kind of funny if you look through our recycling bins. Let's just say that there is no shortage of wine bottles.
Last Tuesday night happened to be a get together, then there was Friday night, and this past Monday. A quick stop up last night as well to relay some last bits of information on the care-taking of our resident tribe. This will be the first time that we have gone away since the adoption of two members (BooBoo and Boing). I hope that our resident grandfather feline will be good and watch out over everyone and ensure harmony ensues. There has been a great deal of bickering, fighting and stand-offs the past week, and it seems highly unusual given things have been motoring along fairly smoothly. Ahh, cat politics. Even more complicated than those of the human realm. In any case, we leave the beloved four in good hands, and just hope that the castle is still standing when we return on Sunday.
I think we are all very happy and content in the castle. It was only 6 months ago that we made the dive, gave up the rental and moved ourselves into our new (and first!) San Francisco real estate. That six months has gone by so quickly. Any doubts I ever had were as quick to evaporate as spilt water on a hot summer day. It has been so enjoyable to live in a well appointed space, with such lovely neighbors/friends. Angus has often made reference to the fact that it sometimes feels like college. The fact that you can walk upstairs or downstairs to attend a party, chat in the hall, pass by in the garage every morning. With the guarantee of a once-a-month get together. He's right. It does feel like college, only upgraded. And for me, this is a good thing. College years and memories were some of the happiest of my life. I look back and reminisce fondly. So living in paradigm that echoes the beloved past is righty-o in my book. Long live Sheridan Street.
It's cool too that most everyone in the building is wired, with multiple OS's and systems scattered about. And more wi-fi hot spots than you can shake a stick at. Angus and Sharon welcomed a new laptop into their abode yesterday evening (part of stopping up was a chance to admire the spanky-shiny new hardware), and in setting up wireless access were able to show us the plethora of signals floating around our heads. Woo! Like it, like it, like it.
So they are now a dual OS household (Windows and Apple). As are we. Coolness.
The house is in sixes and sevens as we leave on our trip, but then, as is always pointed out to me, why have it clean since the tribe will only return it back to a state of mess? Good point.
I'll worry about cleaning up and finding whatever I was looking for when we get back.
In the meantime, now flying somewhere over Nevada or Colorado, I have the chance to update the Binkomonster blog, and contemplate castle improvement projects for this year.
Getting the hall and stairs carpet replaced with hardwood flooring is on my immediate scope. And getting the appropriate shelving/entertainment units pulled in upstairs is up there as well. More stuff to put on craigslist for firesale prices. I've been pretty happy lately with my success on craigslist. It has helped immensely in moving us toward our new mantra 'simplify, simplify, simplify'. Just need to get rid of all the 'stuff' that we don't need, don't use, won't ever need. Give it a month. We'll get there.
And last but not least, a toast to our binkomonster CEO. It's his birthday today. 36 years young. Woo hoo! Happy birthday Ryan dear....
The occasion will be marked by a dinner at Babbo's (yes that would be Mario Batali's Babbo in NYC). Look for the review in our forthcoming 'top 10 USA food haunts' that will be published by Binkomonster. It's a great little place (despite all the hype and stupid celebrities who go there to eat and be seen). And tonight is special as we actually have a reservation, so we get to eat in the real dining room , as opposed to out front (which is what we did last time). Many recommendations have been offered on what to try, but I think I'm sticking with the pasta tasting menu. If what is listed on web is still a current offering, it looks to be a treat.
The rest of the week of course will be spent enjoying Mom and Dad's cooking, and Chinese New Year with the family. Friday or Saturday should offer us a chance to go into the city and hit either MOMA or the Whitney. No shoe shopping this time, though I have reserved a small chunk of time to run into Giuseppe-Zanotti on Madison (perhaps there are some winter clearance shoes that are calling me?) And I'm trying very hard to resist the temptation to run over to the Manolo Blahnik boutique. 50% sale. Ugh. I try to console myself by reckoning that since the sale started on Monday (the 19th), anything that was worth getting has been bought by all the Upper East side socialites. So there.
But really, it is all about visiting the art this time.
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