New York state of mind

A bit more of my trip to the States:

W.10th Street

Although it was surreal to be plucked from the daily routine of life in Montevideo, I couldn't help but be awestruck by how beautiful NYC can be. 
It's not hard to see how America developed it's sense of superiority, magnificent accomplishments abound. You can almost overlook the wretched excess and oppression that created it. 

Farmers Market

Bonneville beauty

 

The Boivin's

I had a few chances to connect with friends and family during my stay. The trip to the Hamptons was great, but in some cases a visit was bestowed upon me.
My brother-in-law Gabriel and his wife Rebecca came down from Westchester to visit. This was kind enough, but they also brought a huge cache of gifts for Luca and Vincent.  We had a great night of catching up with a side of reminiscence about the neighborhood. They had both lived in Greenwich Village many, many, many years ago (kidding) and met while working together at the West Village landmark; Chumley's, just two blocks from Holly's place. I was treated to a nice dinner, gellato and sincere well wishes on my travels and group back home.



 

Grant Neale

My long time friend, Grant also took me out on the town. He's a fellow carpenter and talented actor somehow still managing to do both, successfully! He's been a friend to Holly for years and also stopped by to check on her recovery. I'll probably see him on TV before I see him in Uruguay. Well......?

Yes, he looks a little like Roman Polanski. He's performing a one man show about the very same. Topical, nutty.



Our dear friend Samantha was on the must-see list. I had a couple of nice visits to our old neighborhood in Park Slope to see her and her son Aidan.  Not enough time, I need more time for crying out loud! Well, they are likely candidates to visit us (again) and as always, we all hope for another visit to the US soon.

Aidan

 

The days passed quickly and as always, there's not enough time to do all you'd like. Still, it was amazing and refreshing. I stocked up on design ideas and the sheer magnitude of incredible business ventures gave me an inspirational boost to take home.

The 'Friends' building was in our neighborhood.

Subway tile art, wow!

 

Bagels with the works at Murray's

Thanks for reading.
Peace

The Hamptons - Under the Knife

I got a chance to see my sister Louise and her husband Larry my first weekend in New York. My friend Holly was scheduled to have surgery Monday and was more or less pushing me to give her some time before everything got complicated. OK, I guess I can go to Amagansett for a couple of days. It was something like 90 degrees out.

Deck Party

Larry and I play lawn golf? or something, it was fun.

The Rosenbergs

I suppose, I could have had a worse couple of days, but it's hard to hang long where even the dogs live better than most people.

Petey

Staying in the West Village is a bubble of New York Serenity. Everybody is well heeled, good looking and the streets are beautiful and chock full of nice places to shop or just gawk at. I was having a pretty good time pretending I belonged there. 

Somewhere in the bubble

C.O. Bigalow's Apothecary

Holly and Jim - West Side Pier

the best patient ever

The surgery went perfectly (couldn't have done a better job myself) and by some luck she got a private room. The staff was great, food OK, they let me stay as much as I wanted; It was sort of like a spa. A spa that cuts you open. The insurance must have given the 'eject' order, because she was unceremoniously released Tuesday night after I was already downtown. That was the only bump, that and the pain I suppose.

Uruguay-Florida-New York

Not easy saying goodbye to my wonderful family here in Uruguay. 

Our new airport is spectacular and the country in general is in good spirits following the fantastic 4th place in the World Cup.


Here's a huge photo of our team I spotted at the airport.

 My trip has been rewarding and successful on almost every count. 

I was able to swim some and spent lots of time with my dad. He's doing well and seems content. I wish could show my folks how much they've done for me.

 

 Here I am filling up dad's car.  Those clothes and some borrowed would have to do for my stay. My suitcase went on to NY without me.



The few days in with my family in Florida was wonderful. I am grateful this trip has allowed me to see them again. Parting was not easy there either.

Not having my suitcase was all my fault. I brought home the wrong one from the airport. Well, it looked like mine! That took some time and it wasn't until I was leaving for NY that I received news that it was waiting for me there. The security jack-boots ripped it apart, so now I've got to buy a replacement for the return home.

This is one of the cheap-o bags I'm considering. I hope it makes it.

Lots of presents to bring, lots. 


Next post: Holly's good as new (almost), the beautiful West Village and my trip to the Hamptons.


Fancy!

Thanks for reading

Traveling

It is with mixed emotions I set out for the US this week. I am going chiefly to help a friend, but will try to get in as much visiting as time allows.


I've got plenty of hard-to-find or super expensive household items and gifts to bring back too. I will do my best to satisfy everyone, but travel for me is no easy business.

I'll miss my family a lot. We take great pains (and boy can it be painful, ta-dum) to spend a lot of time with the kids. I don't easily take time away from that.
I'll miss my routine too; cooking, guiding the kids to do what they should, assisting my wife. All the little things that make up a day.
We are (and have been the last couple of weeks) dangerously close to selling San Salvador. It's too much to go into here, but it looks like we will have to confer through Skype or something while I'm away. Ironically, Janine had to close on this very house while I was in NY the last time I went. Weird right?
I am glad to get away from winter for a bit, although guilty that we all can't. It's fffffu-reezin' out now.
Just the other day it was beautiful. Go figure.


I will be glad to find some better jobs upon my return.






Here's a door, broken in by robbers, I repaired last month.






Today I will be adding a cabinet to a friend's kitchen that will hide the water heater.  I'll put up a shelf if I'm asked. Things will pick up, just gotta be patient.


Also, if it gets a little warmer, I can resume work on that awful roof.
As you can see, we've go most of that insulating foam scraped off. Yikes, what a killer job this one was, is. The super thick part by the parapet is gonna have to stay. WTF? I can't get that off, not this year!



Okay, last post before I travel, probably.


Next: the view from a sweltering (and probably stinking) New York City.




Thanks for reading.

Futbol and (not) Smoking

Uruguay is looking good. Their impressive win against South Africa was made a little sweeter when those stupid horns finally fell silent for a minute. And now with today's win over Mexico, it seems our boys in light blue are on a roll.

 Here's Forlán doing what he does best.








Quit smoking. Seriously. Check this story from Slate, it mentions Uruguay's awesome 'kid smoking' ad.
The tobacco companies are playing their usual games, but reason is gaining on them.

Cheers