Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you enjoy yours. We don't get to have Halloween this year because Patrick is working til 10:30 tonight and I don't want to go to the famous Halloween parade by myself. And I won't have any trick or treaters because I don't have a stoop at my building. Oh well. We did drink hot cider and watch The Shining last night.

Addendum
We did get a little bit of Halloween. Patrick is home unexpectedly due to an eye injury and as we were sitting here I noticed that there was more than just trick or treaters outside. No, it's not the 6th Avenue parade that's on TV, but Park Slope gets its own little Halloween parade, with mostly kids and their parents. So we went out on our fire escape and got a perfect view. Unfortunately it was too dark and the pictures I took didn't turn out. It was headed up by a headless horsemen, two guys in scream masks on roller skates, and an awesom drum band with a guy with a flag dancing in front. After that, everyone in costume marching through interspersed with impromptu bands including the 'only in NY' sight of a crew of skeletons dancing with shopping carts. |

Good Things

I had 3 good interviews with one definite 2nd interview and one possible (will get calls later this week) and am also being presented for a temp job through the holidays so, one way or another, looks like I will be working again soon.

Patrick likes his new job and he also gets free stuff at the end of every night when all the businesses in the market pool their leftovers.

We have a couch! Thank you craigslist, where we found the perfect size (about 4 1/2 feet wide), perfect color (beige - I keep my furniture neutral so I can use bright color paints and accessories), perfect price ($150! excellent condition and it has a twin-sized pull out bed) and perfect location - only 8 blocks away. $25 more and a guy with a van drove us curb to curb with it, telling us all about changes in Brooklyn over the past 25 years along the way.

The house is feeling more homey now that I put up our Halloween decorations. We have orange and black (well - purple) lights in the windows that face the corner as well as a bat hanging in the middle window and last years haunted house and flying witch lanterns.

Not So Good Things

I got to find out what happens when someone leaves a package or bag or something on a train today. We got stopped while the conductor 'investigated a situation which may affect this train' and then told to leave the train - a packed rush hour train - and wait for the next to arrive. I have never been so shoved in my life trying to get on that other train, like people thought they would actually get a seat or something.

Oliver no longer vomits when he's stressed. Now he pees. I guess I will have to make a vet appointment for him soon.

Audrey immediately started scratching the new sofa, so we got out the kit and applied her new press on nails (can't find the site link now, but they're plastic caps you glue on cat claws to keep them from scratching). This was good for a couple of days, but I got up this morning to find that she'd pulled off half of them. Reapplication is scheduled immediately following this blog. |

Patrick got a job and I have 3 interviews between now and Tuesday. :) |

Don't feel like posting right now, but Patrick posted a good review of our weekend here. Happy reading! |

Last night we went to see Interpol play the last show of their Antics tour, a hometown show here in NY. First of all, I have to say that after years of seeing shows in Cleveland with sorry attendance and tepid enthusiasm (in the "home of rock n roll" too) it was really nice to see a very hyped up crowd at a sold out show.

The venue itself was not bad. Multi-levels and either a former theater or a dance club made to look like a former theater. I was happy to find a balcony, a great thing for short girls like me. I was less happy to find that they were charging $5 for a small bottle of water. Seriously. I thought the bartender was bullshitting me but no - that was the cost of all non-alcoholic drinks. he shot special was $9. Needless to say we shared our water like it was gold and did not make a repeat visit to the bar.

The first band, Child Ballads, was technically very good. Stylistically, they did nothing for me. I think Kerry might like them tho - they're indie with a lot of bluesy and alt-country types of sounds.

Boom Bip was more to my taste. Even though I normally am not into intstrumenal rock bands, their songs had so much dynamics and were really foot tapping fun. And yhou really can't go wrong with a Fender bass 6.

Interpol rocked. But of course they did. It was awesome to feel the floor vibrating during Slow Hands. They played all my favorite songs except Stella. They even played Take You on a Cruise and added this driving drum and guitar jam at the end with the whole audience bouncing up and down to it.

Other notes... I was not prepared for the whole rock star aura there. Sure, I know Interpol is really popular, but... I was standing at a point in the balcony where there was a really narrow passage for people to walk through. Right before Interpol went on, the bouncers cleared the area and wouldn't let anyone close. Some trendy guy in a black suit was rushed past and then people could move again. Apparently we weren't trusted in the presence of such rock star gods. Maybe I'm just jaded because to me the only rock star ever was Robert Smith, and everyone else is just a musician and why should I treat them any different than anyone else. But judging from the woman next to me maybe it was a good idea.

The woman next to me. This tall blond girl who looked like she was at a Duran Duran concert in 1985. Every time they played her "favorite song" she would grab her hair or clasp her hands to her mouth or hug her boyfriend. It was insane. Although she wasn't the one I heard screaming "I love you Paul" at the singer.

All in all, a great show, and a lot of fun even if Patrick and I are now going on about 5 or 6 hours sleep. |