Tuesday, June 05, 2007
June Swoon
Just like last summer, it looks like I won't be writing all that much while I kick it around the city. You'll forgive me, right? You know the action around here really gets going when I'm in Japan, after all.
At the very least I can offer you an overview of what I've been up to here in New York. My weekdays are pretty quiet, mostly dedicated to going through my things and occasionally eating out. Quite often I don't even leave the building, especially if it's raining. Compared to my life in Albany I am considerably more inert here, and I can see the difference in my waistline. I need to find a way to get back into shape because I am obviously gaining weight again. I'm not in danger of reverting back to my 2005-level, but I am definitely heading in the wrong direction.
Of course, part of that involves the food that I eat, and while I try pretty hard to take it easy I have been indulging myself over the weekend. Memorial Day Weekend featured two back-to-back BBQs with friends. The first was in Croton and I had the opportunity to hang with a number of high-school-era friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in years. There was kind of an odd dynamic with a great number of small children and dogs in attendance, but nobody snatched anything off my plate or knocked over my drink so I found the entire experience relaxing. Dylan was there and kind of offered to host an "after-BBQ" if I may coin a phrase. This one was much smaller in scale, of course, but it was wonderfully relaxing.
Strawberry Shortcake, sandwich-style. I'm sure Mako is envious right now.
BBQ after dark - No kids (or pets) allowed.
Last weekend featured no "official" BBQs but I certainly ate my share of rich food. Friday night was a legitimate "sausage party" (laugh if you must) with a variety of store-bought pork and chicken concoctions. I have no complaints, honestly, but I must point out that once you cook them it's pretty hard to tell which flavor is which. Then again, if everything is made of awesome what does it matter?
Saturday night I had hoped to catch that well-reviewed comedy Knocked Up but it didn't happen. We made it to the theater but the show sold out. Fortunately, we had a back-up plan. Friday night left us with an abundance of hot dog buns because most folks preferred their sausage sans-bread. I, practically as a lark, suggested that the only solution was to make lobster rolls. Funny thing is, Ben didn't laugh at my outrageous idea. We bought three live lobsters (!) at the supermarket and Ben singlehandedly boiled, shelled and prepared them.
Be honest. You can't tell the difference either.
Danger! The last thing I need is another scar.
After all that food I did take a jaunt out on Sunday to Central Park to attend the "first annual" Japan Day, an event organized by the Japan Society. Considering the event was held in Central Park, a gigantic space, I was disappointed by the cramped conditions. All of the booths and the stage and the crowds were squeezed into a small plaza that was tightly restricted with barricades and disinterested security guards. Compared to the festivals they used to hold down in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza it was noisy and claustrophobic. There are frequent street fairs in this city on weekends where 10-15 blocks along 2nd or 3rd Avenue are closed; why on Earth can't one city block host an event like this?
In the meantime, today was one of busiest weekdays ever. I actually had to respond to a jury summons! For years, while I was working, I wanted very badly to participate in a jury. I never understood why people made a point of avoiding it. Maybe it was because anything that would have gotten me away from work would have been a welcome upgrade of my time. Sadly, they never wrote me until now, and by the time they get around to actually requesting my service I'll be in Japan. Their loss, frankly.
At the very least I can offer you an overview of what I've been up to here in New York. My weekdays are pretty quiet, mostly dedicated to going through my things and occasionally eating out. Quite often I don't even leave the building, especially if it's raining. Compared to my life in Albany I am considerably more inert here, and I can see the difference in my waistline. I need to find a way to get back into shape because I am obviously gaining weight again. I'm not in danger of reverting back to my 2005-level, but I am definitely heading in the wrong direction.
Of course, part of that involves the food that I eat, and while I try pretty hard to take it easy I have been indulging myself over the weekend. Memorial Day Weekend featured two back-to-back BBQs with friends. The first was in Croton and I had the opportunity to hang with a number of high-school-era friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in years. There was kind of an odd dynamic with a great number of small children and dogs in attendance, but nobody snatched anything off my plate or knocked over my drink so I found the entire experience relaxing. Dylan was there and kind of offered to host an "after-BBQ" if I may coin a phrase. This one was much smaller in scale, of course, but it was wonderfully relaxing.
Strawberry Shortcake, sandwich-style. I'm sure Mako is envious right now.
BBQ after dark - No kids (or pets) allowed.
Last weekend featured no "official" BBQs but I certainly ate my share of rich food. Friday night was a legitimate "sausage party" (laugh if you must) with a variety of store-bought pork and chicken concoctions. I have no complaints, honestly, but I must point out that once you cook them it's pretty hard to tell which flavor is which. Then again, if everything is made of awesome what does it matter?
Saturday night I had hoped to catch that well-reviewed comedy Knocked Up but it didn't happen. We made it to the theater but the show sold out. Fortunately, we had a back-up plan. Friday night left us with an abundance of hot dog buns because most folks preferred their sausage sans-bread. I, practically as a lark, suggested that the only solution was to make lobster rolls. Funny thing is, Ben didn't laugh at my outrageous idea. We bought three live lobsters (!) at the supermarket and Ben singlehandedly boiled, shelled and prepared them.
Be honest. You can't tell the difference either.
Danger! The last thing I need is another scar.
After all that food I did take a jaunt out on Sunday to Central Park to attend the "first annual" Japan Day, an event organized by the Japan Society. Considering the event was held in Central Park, a gigantic space, I was disappointed by the cramped conditions. All of the booths and the stage and the crowds were squeezed into a small plaza that was tightly restricted with barricades and disinterested security guards. Compared to the festivals they used to hold down in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza it was noisy and claustrophobic. There are frequent street fairs in this city on weekends where 10-15 blocks along 2nd or 3rd Avenue are closed; why on Earth can't one city block host an event like this?
In the meantime, today was one of busiest weekdays ever. I actually had to respond to a jury summons! For years, while I was working, I wanted very badly to participate in a jury. I never understood why people made a point of avoiding it. Maybe it was because anything that would have gotten me away from work would have been a welcome upgrade of my time. Sadly, they never wrote me until now, and by the time they get around to actually requesting my service I'll be in Japan. Their loss, frankly.
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中央公園で「日本の日」だったのか。なるほどねぇ。こっちでは、今「イタリアの春」（→http://primavera-italiana.net/）をやっているよん。なかなかおもろいやでぇ。ところが、中央公園での写真は（もしあれば）アップしないのでしょうか。
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