OK Go!

Meanwhile, Back In Tromsø...

Tromsø, Norway, just north of the Arctic Circle, is the home of Röyksopp, pictured right below, a lovely band that makes pretty electronic music with a mellow beat. Brian and I had the privilege of visiting Tromsø in 2000 on a cruise up the Norwegian coast, in the mist, fog, and cold August rain. Left below is the Arctic Cathedral - there's also a beautiful white suspension bridge that Brian ambled across.

Here's how we entered Tromsø, aboard the Kong Harold, identical to this ship below...

Sapa Celebration

Last night we celebrated the successful IANSA bond deal closing with a gourmet dinner for 12 at Sapa, the posh nouvelle-cuisine Vietnamese and French eatery just a few blocks east of where I live. Joining the five people from IANSA were my bankers Carlos & David, all our attorneys, and, later on, Mrs. Carlos. We all met at 8:30pm, after a little troubling finding the place behind construction - but the interior is a splendid spacious but minimalist atmosphere of translucent and transparent glass cubes, jade, and plants (see picture left). The evening's inebration came courtesy of white wine and 'cosmojitos,' which is exactly what it sounds like, a mojito structured as a cosmopolitan, topped with delicious mint.

We chose the tasting menu, a feast of originality, interesting flavors and textures, and pretty presentations, all in modest porportions, so that we left the restaurant thoroughly satiated but not stuffed.

Erik and I are close to deciding on our forthcoming vacation, now only two weeks away. I think we're set on a national park holiday in the Rockies, it's just a question of when, where, and how, which we're hoping to sort out today and tomorrow. More to come.

I'm hoping to see one of the following movies this weekend: My Summer Love, The Beat My Heart Skipped, Happy Endings, Last Days, Saraband, and Me You and Everyone We Know.

Cartoon:

Love Is Like A Heat Wave

Where In The World?

Pristine Lakes and Iron Mine Ruins

Through the rusted remains of an iron mine, furnace, and railway complex, under rustling greenery and over a bed of grass and wildflowers, around a long, pristine lake full of happy fish. Such was my Sunday, hiking through Sterling Forest State Park with Peter. It's about 40 miles north-northwest of the city, in NY's Orange County, west of the Hudson, near the NY-NJ border. In the park there are the remains of some twenty plus old mines. There are also several furnaces here. The Sterling Mine (under Sterling Lake) started in 1750. It lasted until 1902. Its water-filled mine shaft opening can be seen north of the lake. The outlet shaft lies at the southwest corner of Sterling Lake. The shaft stretched under Sterling Lake for 1,000 feet. No trace of the mine itself exists today. We had our bag lunches on a quiet, deserted beach along the northern rim of the lake before completing the circle on a ridge some 20 feet above the water. What a great day!

Undersea Community

A relaxing day, it looks beautiful and sunny out, not too hot or humid. It's 7:30pm, and haven't been out for more than 5 minutes. Next up: a sunset stroll by the river. Tomorrow we're headed up to Orange County to hike in a state forest and see an abandoned mill, I think. More on that later.

At left, underwater hippopotami.

Like manatees, with feet and better breath. Not that I would know.

Berry Happy It's Over : - )

Hey, all, here I am, rested and happy, the deal is done, and I can now legally tell you about it.

To celebrate, this morning I casually outed myself to my two wonderful banker colleagues, in case they hadn't figured out on their own that I'm gay. Last year I'd used investor trips to do the same with my trader, salespeople, and customers. This makes me very, very happy. I've been completely out in my private life since I was 19, now I'm completely out at work.

Since May I've been working 24/7 on a $100 million bond offering for a Chilean sugar company, IANSA, that's relatively unknown in our market. This involved going to Chile to study the company and confirm its creditworthiness ("due diligence"), writing the prospectus that informs potential buyers about the company and the terms of the bond ("documentation"), and, when the deal is publicly announced, marketing it to potential investors in a delicate dance between seller and buyers that determines the bond's interest rate ("placement and pricing.") Above, a raspberry, which is one of IANSA's most profitable products (Chile exports off-season frozen fruit to the Northern Hemisphere).

Finally.... Wednesday's dinner was Dosa (pictured below), an Indian specialty which is like this awesome conical pancake arranged around a mound of potato and onion, which is dipped in various Indian sauces. Hindulicious! Cartoon:

Computers Are The New Cars

We Serve Everyone

A Pancreas By Any Other Name

...would be just as sweet...

I Sea Grape

Miami is lovely, very tropical, humid, and florid. Very sunny, permeates everything. David's digs are all whitewash and bright light, with vegetation and a sea view. It's a formerly run-down 60s building being revamped with amenities. It's also, reportedly, the home of the world's largest sea grape tree. At left, a painting of a sea grape tree in Cuba. Enjoy... xo Aar

We may see Charlie & The Chocolate Factory later. Also, a barbecue. lots of friends, no watches or agendas or schedules. Really lovely....

Yakety Yak

and don't talk back... Old 50s song... For those mystified by yesterday's cry of 'Ack! Ack! Ack! Cowabunga!', let me clarify that the 'Ack!'s indicate frenzy, whereas the 'Cowabunga' denotes the sensation of leaping into the great unknown. Just got 10 hours of sleep. One more intense day, and I'm off to Miami this evening. Woo-hoo!

I may play my first game of tennis this weekend! Stay tuned...

Here are pictures of Samarkand and a cartoon:

What's Gnu?

Worked until 1am last night, but my contribution to the Secret Project is done. Phase two involves lots of talking and explaining, for a week and a half, primarily during normal business hours. I hope you like this nature photo! Three years ago in Kenya, Erik and I went on safari and saw many amazing things, from an appetizer-stealing monkey to a lion couple in the heat of passion to a male elephant that clearly wanted to be. We also saw an alkaline lake with several million flamingos! Well, off to banker-lawyer-land. Last night at 1am there was a double row of limos outside the law offices - easily 20 vehicles - that's an awful lot of young lawyers burning the post-midnight oil.

Let's Dance...

Traffic Marmelade

Before The Breathing Air Is Gone...

Before the sun... is just a bright spot in the nightime... Had a lovely day out in Pound Ridge with Kevin & Stephen, and Kevin's very cool family. It was a halcyon, relaxing day, with a cloudless sky and the buzz of busy bees amidst Kevin & Stephen's colorful flower garden. I was fairly mellow about said bees, provided they stayed at least 3 feet away from my head.. My reflexes improvised various evasive maneouvers but at no time did I lose my tranquility. Kevin's delicious dinner included steak strips, roasted vegetables in garlic & wine sauce, salad with fresh herbs, apple tart, and fresh blue- and straw-berries. Bliss.

Chile Gets Its Groove On

Embarrassing Moment!