My parents, the birdwatchers

Hi. People always ask me why I need to write here, and the truth is, it's a habit: I've always been doing it.

Back in my school days, before the internets existed, I had dozens of notebooks where I'd write stories about classmates or recap classroom happenings, with my own commentary. Those notebooks were passed around like donuts in an office of fat guys.

I would see someone I didn't even know trying to stifle their laughter in third period, and it was because of what I wrote. I'd also see people be disgusted or horrified or saddened due to whatever I wrote that day. Most times, they'd beg me to write more.

I like that.

I live in a post-war, wedding-cake style building on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan that originally housed the Atlantic Insurance Company.(Because every New York neighborhood needs a nickname, mine is called the FiDi).

I'm at that point in my life where I need anthems. My anthem of the moment is "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine...because my dog days are over. I've had a lot of false starts, and now THIS. IS. IT.

My walking around anthem is "Animal" by Neon Trees. Why? It's a good tune to have in my head as I'm walking around, hands down, the best city in the world. (Which reminds me, another excellent song is "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional, but that was my L.A. anthem.)

There aren't nearly enough adventures in my life, but I aspire to always live like it's my last year here, or wherever I am.

Pay attention to details!

This is a blog.