vol. 53

yeah, it's been a long time... honestly, don't know that i really feel like i had anything to say... just got back from a great week in nyc/hoboken visiting nick... i love that i've been there enough that i can do the things that i want to do with no real problems - don't get me wrong, there were times i got lost or turned around for a little bit, but for the most part it's a great time for me to do the things i like... and, truth be told, while i know how hectic the city can be, it's truly gotten to the point for me that it's relaxing -- i know that may seem backward to many, but to me, there aren't many things better than walking through the back streets of soho or greenwich village... had a great time running the jukebox at broome street and watching the traffic cops get those who were blocking the box -- yeah, not the typical trip to nyc that many people would be doing -- no more times square for this guy... so what did i do on my trip, you ask? (well, you were about to ask...)

• ate... man did i eat some great food -- a fiore's sandwich, excellent mexican, a tremendous sausage panini, bananas foster waffles, ham and gruyere at balthazar, nick's chicken creation, and, of course, pizza... grimaldi's was well worth the trip, but i think my favorite find of the trip was la pizza fresca... found out about this place in new york magazine (it's number 9 on their list) -- and they were right on -- the pepperoni was cooked perfectly, the buffalo mozzarella was excellent, the sauce was unbelievable, and that's not usually something that matters to me that much, and the crust was just beyond words -- i will be going back to this place for sure...
• walked and wandered... by no means am i in shape right now, but you have no concept of what it's like to truly walk until you do so in nyc - i really don't think that i'm exaggerating when i say that i had to have walked at least 20 miles over the week i was there -- what i really enjoy is not having a major plan on a trip like this - i had a few definites: grimaldi's and the guggenheim -- but beyond these two things, i was pretty free...
  
• all points west...things were delayed a bit for us due to the weather, but we knew what we were getting in to... the mud was just unbelievable -- you had to be there on sunday to truly understand... liked what i heard of hey champ, we are scientists and elbow...will definitely be listening to them some more... i was really excited to see echo and the bunnymen -- have loved them since first hearing lips like sugar... but i was definitely disappointed in them - they sounded okay through most of their set, and actually sounded pretty good at times, but ian mccullough was just an ass and it came through in his performance...and then there was coldplay... it's truly hard to explain what a coldplay show is like - but i think one word comes close: energetic...say what you will about their music - it's soft, weak, whatever... once you see them live, you'll come around -- they truly, truly put on a strong show...
• spent time with nick and friends...he's really establishing himself with some great friends who are great people... loved to see this...

well, it's good to be back, i guess... i have some more in me that i'll try to get on this week...