The 20th Floor

Another view from my office. You may recognize the courthouse from Law & Order...

Recommended

Judith Warner has a great piece in the Times today.

Even Here

One of the greatest tricks to surviving in the City is uncovering enough nature to keep you sane.

Because its the City, we don't fall asleep to crickets chirping or chase lightening bugs during those long summer nights. We don't spend our Saturdays mowing lawns or raking leaves. We don't grill in backyards or grow our own vegetables (much to my chagrin). And we don't spend the winter walking around on frozen, icy earth.

These are things I miss.

But one of the greatest gifts the City provides is the ability to appreciate even the tiniest symbols of nature - green grass, wildflowers, cicadas, earthworms.

This tree is along my route to work. I'm separated from it by a fairly busy 3-lane road. But it makes me smile every morning, nonetheless. It's fall, leaves are changing, and I'm happy to catch a glimpse of it.

Evolution

I made this:


from that:

Let Me Not Forget

From Obama's speech in Chicago last night:

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Beautiful

VICTORY!

And here's a link to a fabulous Washington Post editorial about Obama's success.

And, finally, I know this makes me a hippie, but it feels great to see this again:

This is it!

Lines at our polling center at 6:15 AM.

And again at 11:30 AM.


I can't tell you how good it felt to pull that lever for Obama - I came out of the polling center skipping!

Back in March, as McCain's candidacy became more certain, I thought Election Day would be a bit more conflicted. Obviously, I believe in Obama, his message, his policies and the next chapter of America that he represents. But I also think McCain is a good man, an excellent senator, and someone who has really "walked the walk."

Sadly, after McCain's pathetically run campaign, his manipulation and encouragement of racism and anti-Muslim sentiments, and Sarah Palin (!!), it just felt damn good to vote for Obama.

And a message I can get behind:

Vindication!

The New Yorker reviews Taylor Swift's New Album

Perks

As an employee of the city government, I (and, by extension, Michael) benefit from a host of perks. But right now, given how early the sun sets, perhaps the greatest is the view from my office. Here's a picture from my boss's office - the Empire State Building, the Chrystel Building, and the general beauty of the New York City skyline. It seems only fair that city employees are rewarded with this view.

On my walk to work every morning, I pass Magnolia, a floral shop that my mother would kill to manage. No matter the season, Magnolia has stunning flowers that brighten up the sidewalk. As terrible for the environment as selling hydrangea in the winter must be, I can't seem to muster the liberal indignation required to get upset. Instead, I marvel at their beauty and appreciate the pick-me-up.


Another benefit from walking to and from work: the little changes in our neighborhood that I notice early on. Here's a messy picture from the very first winery to open in the city, mere blocks from our apartment. Dangerous...

Fall Wonderment

I always feel antsy this time of year... something about the change of seasons, the end of summer, the closing of another year, and of course, the cold weather.

This weekend, Michael indulged my love of country music to an impressive degree. He sacrificed a relaxing Saturday night in the city to travel to Connecticut, the land of very bad radio, to see Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift at Mohegan Sun. The drive was pleasant thanks to the beautiful fall foliage. Here's a quick picture, taken at high speeds from our rental car.

Once back in Manhattan today, I dropped Michael off near 30 Rock so he could head back into the office. It's been happening rather frequently these days, so here's an image of the apartment as I've seen it lately.


Finally, while I walked around this evening, popping into stores and enjoying the pre- Thanksgiving and Christmas excitement, I took this shot of our neighborhood restaurant. Michael and I have enjoyed dinner here twice - a special occasion, to be sure (as so much in our neighborhood is). Anyway, the picture felt like fall -- a cool night outside, but warm where you want to be.