magicbeans. nothing if not awkward.

So, as can be attested to by the bottle of wine in my cupboard, compliments of the real estate company through whom I found my place, I am officially a resident of the Inwood neighbourhood of Manhattan. Signed my lease. Laid out my initial payments. Called up ConEd to put my name on the electric and gas bill. Which, by the way, among all my moves, was the simplest utility connection that I've ever dealt with.

Back to midtown, and out with people from work for Mike's birthday. Carmine's, a big, Italian-American 'family style' restaurant. A few too many tomatoes for my taste, but there was food I could eat. And lots of wine.

Then more drinks at a bar that Emmett and Greg used to frequent a few years back. There was a band downstairs playing disco (plus proto-disco, post-disco, and disco-inspired contemporary dance hits). The whole thing, not least the Upper West Side clientele, was a little surreal.