the evening with M

Our dinner reservation is for 8:45.  Nobu uptown. 

There are eight of us:  M, her son Sam, his girlfriend Josie, Alexander and me.  In addition, we are joined by a couple of M’s friends, Bob and Laura, and their son Sam. 

The restaurant is gorgeous.  The food is exquisite.  Dishes and dishes keep coming.  The presentations are beautiful.  This is not your ordinary Japanese fare. 

I’ll start being more careful what I eat after the holidays. For now, this is too much fun.

the day with M

M and I decide that we will do something cultural today.  Maybe even the Frick.  But we are definitely not going shopping.  I have a Groupon for a walking tour of Central Park.  They take place every two hours, every day.  I call to schedule and get a recording.  “Someone will get back to you within 48 hours.”  Now what?  We'll  do something.  Just not shopping.  We both wear sneakers prepared for a long walk.

It’s colder than I thought, and now I wish I’d worn a heavier coat.  We head up Madison, unable to resist stopping in a few stores. 

M wants to go to Central Park, thinking we might find the walking tour.  We don’t.  But we do speak to some nice tourists — a couple from London and later a group from Greece.   The park is stark and beautiful.  We even try out the camera on my new iPhone.

I'm getting cold and Barneys looks warm.  And so we stop.  We look at handbags.  We look at shoes.  We buy only cosmetics — a Terry lip balm and an award-winning concealer by Cle de Peau — it could have been worse.

On the walk home, we realize we haven't had lunch.  We think maybe frozen yogurt.  Instead, we pass an inviting French restaurant (Fig & Olive) and go in. The menu comes and when I reach for my new prescription glasses, I cannot find them.  I search everywhere.  My bag three times.  My coat pockets.  We even call Barneys.  My glasses are gone.

The two guys next to us can’t help but overhear our conversation.  By the time lunch is served, we are talking to our neighbors as if we’ve known them for years.  

M and I are finishing up lunch when one of the guys says, “Are these yours?” and holds up my glasses.  I am stunned.  M remarks, “OMG (though she says the words), it’s like you’re David Blaine!"  

Apparently my glasses had fallen out of my purse, been swept across the floor, and had landed under someone’s coat two tables over.  When the person with the coat leaves, my glasses are uncovered. 

I am so relieved.  Now I don’t have to return to Barney’s.  Now I don’t have to get a new pair of glasses.  Now I am unencumbered with the burden of a material loss. And now, the delicious fig, prosciutto and gorgonzola tartlet with arugula and scallion tastes even better.

fair weather restaurant

It’s a cold, rainy day. Going out is something one would do only if one absolutely had to. The view from my window reflects the stay-inside weather.

Ellen stops over and together with Alexander we watch Out of the Furnace, an okay movie that coulda-shoulda been better.  Ellen leaves around 7:15, and by then, the rain has stopped.  An hour or so later, M arrives from Boston.

We go to Yefsi,  a popular Greek restaurant around the corner from my apartment.  It is usually packed, but because of the weather, it’s pretty empty when we arrive around nine.  By ten, we are the only table left, and it is clear the wait staff is anxious to leave.  The restaurant closes at eleven, but when we try to order an additional dish, we are told the kitchen is closed.  “I’m sorry, but we’re not that busy, so we’re closing early tonight.”  Two free desserts help compensate, but still, flexible hours for a restaurant?  Not a good idea.

good, not great

It’s a sunny winter day and Alexander and I run some errands in the morning.  He is only with me because one of the errands involves getting him a Barbour coat (with lining) for his birthday.  We end up with a navy Beaufort, and even manage a 30% discount.

We come home and I watch Inside Llewyn Davis, the new Coen brother’s film.  Most I know who have seen it, hate it.  It’s the kind of film that critics love and audiences loathe.  The Master comes to mind.  Usually, I’m with the audience, but not this time.

Aside from the film’s overall beauty, soundtrack, and Justin Timberlake, the rather unlikable Llewyn Davis gets under my skin.  He is a very good folk singer.  He is clearly talented.  But he is not quite good enough.  He goes to Chicago and meets Bud Grossman, an important music manager.   He auditions for him.  It’s a nice audition.  Llewyn finishes singing and Bud says, “I don’t see a lot of money here.”  That’s it. 

I see some of myself in Llewyn.  I know I am a good photographer and a good writer. I am not exceptional at either.  My talents will not translate into money. I am not sad about this, as I am not trying to earn money at photography or writing, as I recognize these skills are near-impossible to monetize.

But how lucky is the person who can make a living at their craft.  Llewyn is more like us than not. 

happy ending

$33.66.

That’s what it costs me today to upgrade from my  iPhone 4S to my new 5S. 

I’ll skip the agonizing details and go straight to the end.  I get an astounding $183 for trading in a new iPhone 4S.  And, I even get a new $29 two-foot extension cable for free.

My love for Apple is restored.

Next begins the search for the perfect case.  This could take a few months.  I am very particular.

Addendum and Validation of my good deal:

According to Consumer Reports, old smartphones are like used cars and can be traded in.  The magazine got the following offers when trying to trade-in an Apple 4S in good condition:

• $180 gift card at Amazon
• $140 at Gazelle.com
• $205 gift card at Best Buy