Relaxation

Today was much more leisurely paced than the last few. Went for 'brunch' (rather late, in my book) at North Square - another jazz place. The food was decent (I didn't finish my roasted chicken quesadilla), the ambiance pleasant and the music good. The group today was a singer, a guitarrist and a bassist. All of them very good. I really like listening to bass parts. This bassist was refreshingly different in that he played with the bow once in a while, quite uncommon for a jazzman (in my limited experience anyway).

Have you noticed how many brackets I've been using? Queer.

So... that was the morning and early afternoon. Uncle SG and Aunty LC were off to play ping-pong after that. They thought it would be better for me to spend the day around the 6th Ave/17th St area - Barnes and Nobles, Bed, Bath and Beyond, The Container Store and Old Navy outlets are all around there. They dropped me at B&N, leaving me with another h/p and wandering around listening to my Bach CD's and checking out the feel of my new player case. Very nice! I put it on my belt, realising later that their extra strap would possibly have been more convenient, but I like it on my belt. Here I go rambling. Anyway, quite shiok! You don't feel the weight much although it's a little bulky, and the bulk gives it lots of space for stuff like my glasses case and various brochures. A pity my camera won't fit but the camera is sort of heavy.

Ah yes, back to the shopping. I didn't take long to realise I didn't want any more books, and I can't bear to buy anything after seeing the Strand prices! Drifted along to Old Navy, then walked along 6th Ave a bit before realising I wasn't going anywhere useful and turned around. It was... I hesitate to say drizzling - more like dripping, I call it. Miniscule droplets of water falling on me, not enough to get anything wet. Fortunate since my CD player was still on. I kept it a bit later, but it was safe, really. Wandered through The Container Store, but there was nothing I needed there.

Final stop: B,B&B. It was crowded as somewhere underground, possibly due to the NYU students who were moving in today, and thus congesting the whole of downtown Manhattan. I found several things of use - an extra loud alarm clock (I've been sleeping through my watch alarm for years now. No taking risks waking up! Also no h/p alarm - that always woke me up somehow.), surge protectors/power strips, cheap iron and tabletop ironing board and a nice $40 desk lamp. Had indecision about the lamp, and wasn't sure whether the ironing stuff was necessary/allowed. When I finally decided to get the lamp, someone already grabbed the last one :( but in keeping with my optimistic cynicism, I'm hoping to get a better bargain somewhere else! (then the person who missed buying it will come steal it from my dorm room). I did buy the clock and surge protectors. Turns out the iron and board would have been worth getting (allowed & needed) - would have cost $33. Not bad I think. Only I didn't buy them. *sigh*

Picked up in ridiculously dense traffic on 6th Ave. We went to get another brand of fast food - takeout Chinese :D We got what Uncle SG says are Aunty LC's most practiced dishes - some prawn dumpling sort of things, tau fu, szechuan spare ribs and *drumroll* LOBSTER! Papa will be so jealous! It was all pretty good! I had to be human dumpster again and finish the rice (where's TX when you need him??). Settled down after that to watch Yanni Live at the Acropolis because my hosts wanted me to see the 'Woman in Red' - her name turns out to be Karen Briggs - who features in the performance. Amazing playing, it's some curious hybrid of jazz, gypsy and Celtic fiddling. At least, to my ears. Very cool. I also found great respect for the conductor, Shardad Rohani. He's Persian. Crystal clear conducting, and he can almost, but not quite, match Briggs on the violin. Found he had less clarity and power, but his technique was definitely on par. Also noticed that Yanni really likes writing in 7/8. Heh heh.

HI! Applesauce! I tell you can random a mood in am. Cheerios with lemon juice! Milk in tea for that matter.