Hello after a brief hiatus! I am in NYC visiting family at present and grateful to have finished the majority of dealing with storage and moving out of the charming house on Spruce back into friend Frieda's palatial condo. Regina, roomate of said charming house, gave me a very sweet card in parting. Hawk is now soujourning with Sarah as I make my way down the east coast. Yesterday, I drove ALL BY MYSELF through the city to La Guardia. All these years I've been coming to the city and I've always avoided driving like a mushroom pizza, but there was a need for a driver and I decided that I should risk it. Fran, ex-wife of my Dad's and still family, gave me excellent directions and it was a hassle-free adventure, cutting off taxis and singing along w/ Norah Jones.

After returning to the city w/ Fran and Karen, I walked east to meet Dad for lunch. Afterwards, he took me up to the condo in Trump Tower that he's renovating. It belongs to a commercially successful author, Robin Cook, and is a tad nouveau riche for my taste. Then I kept walking about mid-town, first east to the Ukrainian Consulate, which was closed, then back west to meet Sam and walk in the park. We stopped for a moment at the boat pond and there were 2 Asian wedding parties having their photos and videos done. The brides were very elaborate white gowns and the bridemaids wore pastel dresses and all had their hair twisted, sprayed and decorated high.

Today, back to the Consulate for dog shipping info, downtown to work at Dad's place, then meet a couple, Tom and Tina, for dinner. They are in the same group to Ukraine and I think we'll go to dinner somewhere in the East Village, perhaps a Ukrainian place they know. I need to look for calling cards there.

It is good to be in the city and it is good to see family. I love just walking around, observing odd New York moments, typical New York moments, sad New York moments. Examples in order: 1. guy boarding bus w/ traveling cart full of board games such as "Green Eggs and Ham, the board game." 2. Woman, dressed to the nines in big shades, big hair, fur coat and Monolo Blahniks talking loudly on cell phone while strolling down 5th Ave. 3. The street guy w/ a kempt beard, nice feng shui on his decorated cart. The organized street people really make me sad.

love,
wlu