Saturday, February 19, 2005
Sure, Man
Good morning. Check out Thomas' picture of Keren Ann, who we saw Thursday night at Tonic, as well as his pictures of The Gates.
Also, check out my friend Peter's new blog!
Note that both Thomas' and Peter's blogs are among the links on the left side of this page.
The Gates await! At 3pm I'm braving 19F weather and meeting Bart at 110th St & 5th Ave to take in the Gates with the southern sunlight in our faces. In a few minutes the Computer Guy is coming to solve all of my Computer Woes (sound card, driver, sudden crashes). Look here later this weekend, I expect interesting posts. Peace, Aaron
Political Cartoon:
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Friday, February 18, 2005
I Think Of You, And Let It Go....
On my way to work, late as usual, I 'let go' of my birthday, literally, by releasing two helium party balloons into the air in between my building and the 23rd St subway entrance. Up, up, up, the balloons drifted and wafted, amazingly high for something that had just left my hands, up above my coop's 20 stories and the honking, rushing din of 8th avenue, smaller and smaller, then blown eastward until I could no longer discern them on the horizon.
Last night Thomas and I went to Tonic, a struggling small venue way down on Norfolk St in the Lower East Side. There, we saw Keren Ann (pictured left), a winsome chanteuse of Russian-Dutch extraction by way of Israel and Indonesia, sing her quietly sad, pretty repertoire in French and English. With her shy wisp of a voice, she projects intimacy with just enough distance, world-weary but not without humor and subtle playfulness. Her combo was lovely, including players of viola and french horn, as well as cute Jason, master of the synthesized keyboard as well as the xylophone (!)this entry's permalink
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Galvanize!
I got back from Brazil at 6am, this time via business class, so I'm feeling coherent if not refreshed. Lots of work awaits me, all piled up, physically and electronically. Tonight, I'm going to take in some live music with Thomas, our last such outing before his imminent before he begins two years of wandering the world... This shot of Christo's Gates comes courtesy of BlueJake, one-half of the team that brings you NY-themed group blog Gothamist.Petit Dessein du Jour:
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Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Lula... La La La Lula...
With apologies to the Kinks. : - ) Lula, of course, is Brazil's President, a lifetime socialist who kind of looks like my late Dad, and who Dad surely would have appreciated. Today is the end of my 19th trip to Brazil, my 28th to South America, my 47th to Latin America, and my 87th trip overall. Brazil now ties Mexico as my most visited country. This 'competition' will surely heat up this year, as I have further business to do in both places.
Upon my arrival I was puzzled by the painted faces, in jigsaw puzzle shapes and nursery school colors, of swarms of upper-middle-class Brazilian teenagers, stopping cars in the streets with bizarre requests. The explanation, it appears, is that universities just began a new school year, and these face-painted escapades correspond to initiations of fraternities in the US.
I am home tomorrow at 7am. The Gates await.
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Faraway Is The New Nearby
Greetings from São Paolo's sun-drenched daylight-savings-time splendor and its inviting 80 degrees with a breeze summer climate. This aerial photo is Ibirapuera, São Paolo's answer to Central Park, minus the Gates. It's a relaxed but focused trip - instead of running to meetings, I'm here interviewing job candidates (for a shared-resource-to-be) and writing reports on my laptop. I leave tomorrow on the 11:59am flight (why not just make it midnight?), arriving in NY right before 7am Thursday morning. I look forward to savouring the Gates early one weekend morning. Check out Thomas's terrific photos, including fabric samples, unfurlings, and many shots from the (relatively) deserted north side of Central Park.this entry's permalink
Monday, February 14, 2005
No Free Lunch
Or dinner, or peanuts, or pretzels. Just cramped space, and long, long lines. Such has been my experience flying coach all of last week, and now last night from New York to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Result: massive jetlag.Be nice to your flight attendants. Their orders have the authority of federal police instructions, and defying or verbally abusing one can land you ´behind bars.´ Case in point: a loudmouth 60-year old woman on the NY-Fort Lauderdale flight made such an incessant fuss that the flight attendant, already in a bad mood, arranged for federal police to meet the lady at the gate...
Post from Sunday afternoon:
I'm off to Brazil, back Thursday and can't wait for a 3 day weekend at home, sweet home
Go see The Gates if you can - just lovely
I'll try to post daily. Até logo
Don't Blink You Might Miss Me
Post from Sunday morning:
Got back last night from LA, and this evening I leave for three days in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I am to help interview a new hire. This is actually kind of tedious, I'd rather be with friends, enjoying the Gates in Central Park...
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