New York

I had business in NY last week, so I got to spend a couple of days in the city.  It's the first time I've been back since Ally and I lived there in 07.  I had forgotten how much I love that place.  The differences between NY and LA are stark, which I knew, but this was the most apparent it's ever been to me, probably because up until the last three years I hadn't really spent a lot of time in LA.  But now that I've put man hours in each place, I'm beginning to understand why Biggie and Tupac were at odds.

For one thing, people in NY are a lot nicer than folks in LA (I know, I'm painting with pretty broad strokes here).  I've long thought New Yorkers have a bad rap when it comes to friendliness.  Perhaps it's because they live right on top of each other and are forced to interact so much while walking on the streets, riding in the subway, etc.  All I know is that my experience has always been that New Yorkers will readily engage you and are generally helpful when needed.  I've made quite a few friends while riding the subway, and even exchanged phone numbers with a guy last week who wanted me to give him a call next time I'm in town.

LA I think suffers from the opposite problem.  People never having to interact while out of the home.  No one walks anywhere, yards are small and neighborhoods are crowded so you rarely see neighbors out in the yard playing with kids or chatting with the guy next door.  I think people sit in traffic all day and just want to go into their homes at day end and not be bothered.

Another contrast is the general style of the two cities.  In NY people are very individualistic, but stylish non the less.  There is an ease to the look of those in the city- shoes are warn from walking, and clothes looked lived in.  In LA, whether Angeleno's want to believe it or not, the look is very homogeneous, especially among women.  Very immaculate, very expensive, often synthetic, and usually overdone.  I don't know that one is better than the other, just different (though I prefer the latter to the former).

That all said, LA has way better weather, and I think the opportunity for a better lifestyle is here in La La Land.  Still, it was great to be back for a few days.  Love that NY!

Grond Zero.  Can't believe it's been nine years today

Out old apt- 100 John St.

The old Lehman building, now Barclays blue.

8 Weeks

Parenthood is a funny thing.  It starts with the honeymoon called pregnancy.  Nine months of dreaming and fantasizing about how great your child will be and how you'll spend countless hours watching her sleep and cuddling her, dressing her up in cute outfits and taking tons of pictures.

Then there is the actual child birth which is even more incredible than you imagined, but... you now have a baby to care for.

No one tells you that initially it feels like the baby's not yours.  That you feel like you're just tending a niece and in a couple of weeks your life will go back to normal and you'll be able to do all the fun things you used to.  That your baby will cry and cry until you get frustrated with her, causing you to get angry with yourself because you're getting frustrated with a baby who can't  help herself.

Suddenly she starts making eye contact with you, perhaps even giving the occasional real smile, spending awake time content.  Your previous indifference begins to turn into like, and before long you find yourself thinking of her while you're at work, anxious to get home to hang out with her.  Soon you realize you really do have the coolest baby ever.

A few of my favorite Blaire-isms so far...

Blaire Bear- not only does "bear" conveniently rhyme with Blaire's name, but it also aptly describes the creature hiding deep within my baby.  When she is waking, she growls and snarls much like how I imagine a bear does when it emerges from hibernation.  WARNING: DON'T WAKE THE SLEEPING BEAR!

Baby One Sock- Blaire CAN NOT keep two socks on her feet.  The fact that socks don't stay on the feet of a wiggling baby is not that surprising to me, what I don't understand is why only one foot?  Never both on, never both off- always baby one sock.  (It also happens with her hands and mittens)

The Cappuccino maker- lets just say that sometimes her south end bubbles and fizzes like a popular drink maker.

The Woodpecker- when we hold her chest to chest, Blaire likes to explore for food by "pecking" at the chest of whomever is holding her.  Actually very annoying, but still cute (until someone gets a fat lip)

Lot's of others, but I won't bore you.

The Bear is waking.  I call this the "stink eye"

Baby One Sock strikes again

Blaire Hefner lounging in her robe