More general update

I've been exploring the area around my apartment to be. (19th and Mercer). East/West blocks are about a 1 minute walk here.

There are a bunch of restaurants on 15th (including 3 Thai). I ate at one of those (the smallest) today, and it was wonderful. The flavors tasted authentic. I ordered one of my favorite dishes (the spicy beef salad). The waiter asked me, "How spicy do you want it? One to four?" I asked him whether this was an American or a Thai scale. When he said "Very Thai", I ordered a 3. It was perfect. It was just spicy enough that it was almost difficult to eat, but not quite. I worked up a sweat, but gradually. And most of all, it was flavorful. I've since found out that they do delivery. Ah, my life is good.

Also on 15th there is a bank, a few supermarkets, and a barber. I suspect that this street shall proveto be very useful to me.

12th is another commercial strip, though I haven't explored it yet.

Broadway (9th) is massive with stores of every kind. It's great. I stopped in a fetish shop to pick up polish for my shoes and boots. (Who knows leather better?). I also found some pen ink so I can start using my fountain pen again. I'm quickly falling in love with the street, and I haven't even explored the nightlife yet.

Moving backwards in time:

Last night I attended the Cascade Cyclefest. A ton of people gathered together to watch yesterday's Tour stage on a 27' screen. Definitely good fun.

Friday: After work I met up with a bunch of friends from Rochester (Dan, Sharon, and Greg) for dinner (Thai, it wasn't as good), and then the new Willy Wonka. Holy Shit, that movie is warped. Only Tim Burton could make chocolate machines seem so wrong as to be almost sinister. It follows the book more closely except for Willy Wonka himself. Over all the movie is great, though I really don't know if it is a children's movie or not. So much of it will go right over their heads (refernces to 2001, The Fly, The Beatles, Kiss, and more). The movie is delightfully wrong from beginning to end. There were a few parts where I practically said, "Oh God. No... that didn't just happen." I fully recommend it to others, especially Burton fans. (For that matter, I'm also looking forward to his new film "The Corpse Bride" which is coming out soon.)

That's all that I can think of for now. Until then, later.