Dear blog,
This is, as I knew it would end up being, a catch up post. I do mean to keep you up to date with events, but I’m falling behind, so this will be a quick selected highlights thing. I was up reasonably early on Monday. The plan was to go shopping for suits and prezzies, before heading out to Brooklyn. Deb and I grabbed a quick breakfast at a nearby diner, and then began walking uptown. There’s something about this crazy place that makes you end up walking distances you never would have otherwise, so we walked the thirty blocks up towards Central Park and began shopping. It didn’t go well, and we were tired and a little frustrated by lunch time, but we persevered.
In all honesty, lunch was so non-descript that I don’t really remember it, but we did stop in to the Apple Store and FAO Schwartz where I bought Jessica and Sophie a couple very small gifts. Not enough to be gifts, but something. Still need something for Marianne. I gave up on shopping at that point, and we decided to walk over to the Algonquin so Deb could get a tourist fix. What a brilliant idea, it was. We passed a cheap men’s store, I bought a serviceable jacket, and ended up sitting in the deep leather couches of the Algonquin’s Blue Bar drinking cocktails. The Hot Chili Raspberry Cosmopolitan was quite something.
I then headed over to Brooklyn Heights for a very rewarding meeting with Howard Morhaim, a stroll down the beautiful Brooklyn Promenade which has stunning views of the harbour and city, and then back on the subway to the hotel. I met up with Deb again and headed down to Chelsea for an Aussie party at Scott and Justine’s. We dined at a small Italian place, Franks, just near where they live, and were joined by Liza from Locus. After a nice dinner, where I had a terrific rosemary chicken dish, we headed upstairs for the party. All sorts of terrific people showed up. Rob, Cat, and Alisa arrived from home, I got to have a great conversation with Ellen and Delia, and got to meet some of Scott and Justine’s friends, who all seemed vibrant and funny and fascinating.
After a fine party, Deb, Liza and I headed back to the hotel for a late drink and then off to our respective rooms. A good day, after all.
Best
J
YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN ME SOMETHING FROM FAO SCHWARZ!!!! (was that loud enough?)
-your long-suffering wife, home with the 2 kids in Perth while you gallivant around my home state
Hey Marianne! I know the feeling! Paul has gone to Hawaii for telescope observing at least TEN TIMES without me! And to Japan six times without me. (Of course, I did finally tag along to Japan, for Worldcon, but I don’t think one trip makes up for six missed trips!)
Hope you’re doing well down there — I think of you every time I see a Barbie doll! Have you infected your girls with the obsession too? ;-)
Hi Amy! Yes, our younger daughter is Barbie-mad. Our house is overrun with plastic homunculi. :-) I’m glad you got to go to Japan, but yes, you need to tag along with Paul more often! Thank you for empathizing. Good to hear from you!