A contract is a contract

Or so I thought. I have my contracts final this evening. However, it's 10:40 a.m. and I don't know what a contract is. Really. There seem to be no bright line rules. Decisions turn on 'as justice requires' or standards of 'reasonableness.' What does that mean? As my professor says though, it's the ambiguity wherein lawyers make their money.

Anyway, here's to a productive day!

Sunday

Spent the day studying - reading and rereading my outline for my Wednesday final. So ready for this to be over.

I went over to Tony's place to go through a couple of old exams. Mira joined. Tony made dinner - Israeli couscous, peppers, olives, feta all broiled with a bit of olive oil. Very tasty. Never had that type of couscous before - quite meaty. What a place Tony has!!! It's a first floor, non street level, studio with sunken living room/bedroom. The kitchen is amazing. He has a piano and books galore. I was in awe. And he owns. But apparently the super took offense to my having brought a Red Sox hat into his building.

Now, home, about to conk out for the day.

Shortly after I arrived home, Ursula, Philip, and Anne came back and told me of their day - in Siegleresque excruciating detail. Apparently, no dim sum. Instead they went to Malecon for lunch - a nice Dominican restaurant - and hit up the Garden Cafe later on for dinner.

Okay, really, time for bed. Go Schluffy.

Rather do dim sum

Anne, Ursula, Philip, Allison, and Darian are headed out to dim sum in Chinatown for lunch. Without me. I'll be doing practice exams all day. I'd rather be eating dim sum. But of course, I'm, as always, cramming in the material. It's crazy. I should have learned by now. But, alas, I'm studying and not eating dim sum.

Joan

I'm not quite working just yet. Wanted to write a bit about Joan - the other woman I've been seeing for the past 2 years. She's roughly 90 years old and a holocaust survivor. We see each other as often as possible - she lives just a few blocks away. Mostly homebound if no one to help her with the doors in her building - I enjoy spending a few hours a month walking, talking, and sitting with her. She likes watching me climb on the playground monkey bars.

We're to see each other again tomorrow morning, but don't think we'll be headed outside. I think her health has not been on the up side lately. So, we'll likely sit and talk in her apartment. She'll offer me a mini juice box and I'll sip it. She'll ask me about my days and I'll ask her about her time in Germany and what it was like moving to NYC without knowing a soul. She often repeats the same stories, but they become more and more incredible each time. What she went through, what she became, what she now has. It's all amazing. She came to the U.S. without knowing English, became a dentist, and raised a beautiful family. Now widowed and three hip operations in, her young self screams out with wit and wisdom.

I'd like in the future to write down some of her stories. Maybe I'll post them here.

Saturday morning

Since yesterday was almost a total waste, with no work being completed, I've set myself up for a big day of studying. But first, Anne and I went to the farmer's market for some apples - taking the long route on up Payson avenue.

Payson avenue is tucked away along the south east corner of Inwood Hill park. A peaceful little street, lined with woods - and row houses with beautiful windows. If we had the means, we'd live there. The homes go for over a million dollars though and we'd be stretched a bit too thin if we went for that.

After the market, we made our way down Broadway and I introduced Anne to De Cafe - we had coffee and agreed Anne's father would enjoy his morning espresso there when he comes in next month. It's a great place. But I'm hopeful the small space will not limit their viability. It seems much of their business is centered around meals, but the interior is not large - the seating looks uncomfortable. The chairs have no backs. But, as Anne said, there are plenty of people who will want a quick bite to eat and won't mind. I hope she's right - the coffee is good and cheap. Would hate to see it fail.

Later today Anne has friends from Switzerland coming into town. They'll be with us until Tuesday. Ursula was an exchange student who stayed with Anne and family in Wisconsin during high school. They've remained close friends and have visited each other several times. Ursula married Philip. So Philip will be staying with us as well. Unfortunately I'll be studying or in a bad mood because I'm not studying during their stay. So, I figure I'll only be able to spend a limited time with them.

Okay, enough for this morning - must study. Really, get on with it!

De Cafe

I went on a little stroll this evening for pizza at Grandpa's - eh, it did the job. But $8 for a 2 slices and a drink? That's a little much. But, on my way back, I went into a new coffee shop called De Cafe. What a place. It's small, cozy, and a real-life coffee shop - something we're definitely missing here in Inwood. There is free wi-fi and they make their own mozzarella. The prices seemed reasonable and the kitchen, small as it is, seems to have quite a menu.

On my way back, I stopped into a local bodega on Dyckman and had a fruit smoothie - papaya, mango, strawberry, condensed milk, vanilla - Mmmm. $3 and well worth it. It rivals Noemi, the juice place next door, and is 2/3 the price.

While sipping the smoothie, I sat on a bench along the ring garden (which Anne and I just joined!) and spoke with Reynaldo. He's going to Taiwan this summer!!! He's going to teach English there for at least a year and try and pick up Mandarin. I'm so excited for him. And he couldn't be happier for me when I told him about my becoming a park ranger this summer.

For now, I'm off - going to relax a bit and try and do a bit of work. I've had a great, albeit unproductive day.

A bit off . . .

My last post was during August of 2006!!! Jeez . . ., what have my fans thought? Will they ever forgive me?

Okay, here is my vow: I will post with relative frequency.

Okay, really, I HAVE to study. Bye!

An overdue update

It's well over a year since my last post - maybe less. Since I last posted, I've started law school and have decided it's not even close to my bag. I could blame it on working and going to school at the same time, blame it on the commute, but, in reality, all the blame should rest attending without a clear idea of what I wanted out of the experience. I decided to go to law school out of a lack of other options. I never wanted to be a lawyer. I'm not failing out (actually, I did relatively well). I'm glad it's almost over. I have two exams left and my last class was last night. Roughly 15 days until I won't have to study any longer. Thank goodness.

In other news, I am going to take leave without pay from work this summer and work as an Urban Park Ranger for the NYC Parks Department. The only downside is that I'll have to wear a Smokey the Bear hat. Otherwise, I'm going to get to spend the summer out of doors, leading nature hikes and overnight camping trips in the City's parks system. Did you know that 14% of NYC is covered by park land?

I'm particularly excited because I've been less than satisfied with work over the past few years. I've never been happy behind a desk. This was reflected in my day-to-day happiness - I should have left the job years ago.

Anne and I are still happily living in NYC - loving our apartment and enjoying the friends we've made along the past two years here. Anne will be graduating from her masters program in just over a month and I couldn't be more proud of her.

My sister was married this past July to a wonderful man and they're living back home on Long Island.

My folks have moved down to Florida - following the natural migration pattern for the Long Island Jewish community. Anne and I visited a couple of months ago and are in love with our new vacation home!!!

My brother is still living in Buffalo - having just entered a graduate program in the sciences - I'm jealous. I heart Buffalo.

For now, that's the update. I would love to continue writing, but have to study for my contract's final this coming Wednesday.

I hope to keep up this blog - it's nice to look back and remember.

5 things not to do during a piano concert

1) Leave cell phones on - especially if the ring tone is so clearly not from the same period as the piece being played on stage. For example, if the pianist is playing Liszt's Dante Symphony, please don't have the theme to The Simpsons blare out. Recommended alternative: A ring tone inspired by Mendelssohn.

2) Incessantly unwrap candies. Candy wrappers are potentially hair-raising beasts and there is no way to unwrap these without considerable noise. Recommended alternative: Putting a few tic-tacs in your shirt pocket prior to the concert.

3) Apologize, using words, for sneezing. Recommended alternative: Just let the sneeze be a sneeze.

4) Read the newspaper. Actually, reading one is fine, but turning the pages? Recommended alternative: Download articles onto your Treo - just dim the backlight.

5) Giggle for an hour - especially if you are 30.

Recommended alternative when giggles threaten to surface:

a) go through your cell phone address book and delete, one-by-one, each of your contacts;
b) imagine the tic-tacs in your shirt pocket are actually tiny sacks of baby spiders;
c) stuff tissues into your mouth;
d) read about Darfur, river blindness or sub-prime loans on your treo.

At home and not broken yet

Much to the chagrin of Anne, I have not yet brought myself to the ER for an x-ray. It's not that I don't think it's cool to wear a cast. Rather, I just hate the lines. No doubt I would get there, wait 2 hrs to tell a doctor that my foot hurts, 2 hours to get an x-ray, 2 hours for the doctor to read it. Before I blink, I'll have been exposed to the flu, TB, gnarly staff infections, and more, just to be told to stay off my feet. I AM staying off of my feet. And I don't think it's broken either. I can now put weight on it without wincing. Anne doesn't care and wants me to go just to be sure. I'll probably go tomorrow.What else? Well, Anne's in LA with her family right now, enjoying 90 degrees of lovely heat. No, please don't think she abandoned me in my time of need. Really. Well, I guess she did, but . . .. BUT, she made me a sheet of veggie lasagna, a big bowl of couscous, a whole batch of chocolate chip cookies. She also went out food shopping and got . . ., wait, she's in LA?! I'm set, really. I've got my books, rented a couple of movies, and can do my taxes. Shit, all my tax info is at work. Nobody has sent up Domino's with pineapple yet. That's okay, I've got couscous . . ..

Ft. Lauderdale and frozen mixed vegetables . . .

Yeah, they don't normally go together. And today is no exception. I currently have a bag of mini vegetables ace bandaged around my left foot and I'm NOT in Ft. Lauderdale. ERG. Hurt/bruised/Anne thinks I broke it last night while playing soccer and thought a trip down to see my Grandmother would have been less than I'd hoped for. What's a trip to Boca Raton without shuffleboard?! So, I'm now holed up in our 1 bedroom for the long weekend. Could use that t.v. just about . . . now.

I'm not asking for pity, but if anyone would like to send me a Domino's pizza with pineapple, I wouldn't be disappointed. Oh, and I need a cane too - a nice wooden one.

Atheists and Egg Rolls

For all those curious, yes, Atheists and Egg Rolls will be holding its 2nd annual event this coming christmas eve. Christmas eve?! Why start promoting so darn early, you may ask. Well . . ..

Last night I wandered around and finally found the corner of 3rd Avenue and 11th street. Once there, I popped into a bar called the Village Pourhouse. I was meeting a friend/colleague there (we'll call him Mr. B, but he'll remain anonymous for now). We decided to meet up with a group of atheists over beers. Mr. B and I finally found our group nestled in a back room of the bar and affixed name tags.

A reporter named David from New York Magazine knew something I didn't that night - that we were part of the chic atheist movement. He was there gathering info for a coming story on this very topic. Apparently the wave of atheism is in vogue. The reporter likened the acceptance of atheism in today's society to homosexuals - now it's cool. While I agree that being an atheist is cool, I do not feel as if the movement I belong to, is in vogue. Maybe this is becuase I unintentionally wear short pants, but more likely, it is because it is just so not true. Brent, formerly Mr. B, doesn't think so either. Rather than atheism being in vogue, Brent feels it just seems that way, "There have been quite a few books lately, but that's a response to current events. I don't think atheism is spreading; more a response to 9/11 and Iraq and that the world is fucked up."

But this begs the question - can the blow back from our fucked up world in the form of popular press justly be afforded vogue status? I guess it would depend on how wide, sustainable, and far this blow back is and remains. But even then, it will likely be an atheist argument that is in vogue rather than atheists themselves.

In this country, the presumption of theism is a heckuva safe bet. I find it hard to understand what atheism would be and look like if it were in vogue or chic or what have you. If the reporter last night was insinuating that a strong rallying cry for atheism in the form of books like The God Delusion is what is in vogue, he is not talking about atheism. Rather he is speaking of a response to theism as being in vogue.

I find this perception common among both theists and atheists alike - that atheism is a response, rather than merely a state of being. For me, atheism is not an argument for or against anything - rather it is the natural state. It is theism that mandates an unnatural distinction. Without theism, atheism would not exist. There would be no label; there would be nothing to distinguish. I believe any struggle atheists may experience is this forced distinction. How can one characterize something so banal as one's natural state? It just is.

And back to Atheists and Egg Rolls. Why promote so early? Well, heck, why not?

Where: China Town, NYC
When: christmas eve
Who: atheists
Why: I like egg rolls and people who like to eat them on christmas eve.
What: Dinner
RSVP by 12/24/07

Piper's Kilt

Well, I received such overwhelming feedback from my last post and therefore decided that I must, once and for all, decide which of the two rathskellers had my heart when burgers are concerned. I went back to Piper's Kilt tonight and fell in love all over again. The bun was toasted to such perfection - it didn't subsume the A1, allowing its full tang to penetrate the sirloin with such sex, such instinct, I could not help but order another beer to calm my nerve.So there you have it. Inwood's very own Piper's Kilt - two very enthusiastic thumbs up.

Burgers and Beers

I've been living in NYC since mid July and have been during this period consistently carnivorous. That said, I love meat and seek out the best burgers the City has to offer. So far I've found two places which are wrestling for my top notch.

The first one is around west 4th and Christopher street - the Corner Bistro - burgers were quite good, and served quickly. The wait, 45 minutes on a snowy February evening, was well worth it. The beers, albethem smallish, were cheap and served in a hefty mug. The burger - no frills, toasted ground beef served on a paper plate the size of a coffee filter. The fries . . . eh. I could go on about the atmosphere, which was essentially cozy with nooks for relatively quiet conversation, but I wont. I'll just leave it at a great burger joint.

The second, Piper's Kilt, is all the way up around my neck of the woods in Inwood. For those of you who do not venture above Union square, Inwood is nestled in the handle of the island of Manhattan - 200th (Dyckman st.) through 218th. It's an awkward bar space, but the burgers are among the finest I've ever sunk my teeth into. The meat was so tender and held together - holding fast even through my having slathered it with A1 sauce. The atmosphere hovers the line between comfortable and comfortable-ish.

So, there you have it, two great burger joints, 196 blocks apart, wrestling along the A-train for my love.

It's Hot!

By conventional wisdom and practice, my writing on this gleaming, mug-me-white, laptop while riding on the subway through Harlem is a silly idea. Duly noted. However, I choose not to live by this tenet; not out of some form of embellished bravado or in-your-face liberalism, but rather out of self-interest. I choose to write, because I want to write. And I choose to write on this subway at this moment. If someone steals it? Well, I’ll learn my lesson then won’t I?

It’s Wednesday and It’s blazing hot in the city. My only reprieve is the a/c afforded by the myriad public spaces and Borders-like stores around the city. I first went to relax at the Inwood Public Library, but it apparently doesn’t have such generous hours – opening on Wednesdays at 1pm. Now I’m headed down to Columbus Circle for the Borders café.

My intention is to start working on the LSAT again and to do so today. I’ve been putting it off for several reasons, however the enormity of the project reins number one on the list. It’s a big deal, requiring a big investment of time. And to be honest with myself, my convictions to start law school in the Fall are wavering.

Am I applying and possibly going to law school out of wont of something to do? Something to pursue? Do I really know what I want to get out of the three years I’ll invest? What is it that I will do with the degree? Is it worth the enormous investment involved? And, though what should remain as the least of my concerns has settled roughly on top of my list: will I get in somewhere decent? Will I get in anywhere at all?

It’s Wednesday and did I mention that it is blazing hot? The heat index (whatever that means) has been reported to be around 110F. I’ve been sweating like a pig. Like a pig in a dried-out pen.