These past few days have been busy and amazing fun.I just finished packing my suitcase and A is stretching from his brief nap. I still plan to leave soon for the American Indian Museum. Our plane arrives in Denver late tonight, and Cait is picking us up. I'm defintely looking forward to being home, but once again have loved New York.

I already posted about Thanksgiving and how much of a wreck I was after. I'm not sure what else to say about it now...but I've learned a few new things about myself, my committments, and interacting with others. We don't get any "do overs," but at least we can try to learn something along the way.

A and I stayed at an apartment belonging to Tracey and Neal in the same community that Mercer and Jill live in - Hudson View Gardens, way up north past 181 St - through Sunday. The apartment was just beautiful, and their hospitality was outstanding. Opening their home to perfect strangers they'd never met. It was so enjoyable to have our own space, and for free. I found them a nice bottle of wine (that they apparently loved!), some yummy chocolate, and I washed the sheets and towels we used before they returned Sunday evening. We even got to meet them briefly on Sunday night, and it was surreal to meet them in person, after having lived in their house for three days. Very cool.

So Friday - I can't remember everything we did that day. I think I slept pretty late, since we didn't really sleep much Thursday night. We had dinner at Mercer and Jill's house and spent time with Timothy. Who, by the way, is very cute. His 3rd birthday was yesterday.

On Saturday, A and I went shopping in St. Mark's, near the Village. I found a pair of boots (that later gave me blisters!), two pair of jeans and two sweaters. We had lunch at a place called Eva's on 8th Ave. Later on we met Mercer to attempt getting very cheap tickets to Wicked. Before every show, the theatre raffles off 28 front-row tickets for $25 each. We did not win that lottery, nor the 2nd one we tried, so we eventually bought tickets to a show from TKTS, which sells them for 30-60% off right before the show starts. Mercer, A and I saw Jewtopia, a sweet and brilliantly done comedy about two young men looking for good Jewish girls to marry. They did an excellent job of poking fun at themselves in a way that brought laughter of recognition all though the performance. After the show I bought their book, "Jewtopia: The Chosen Book for the Chosen People" as a gift for Jasper's family. I hope they like it - the book is freaking hysterical. They're also writing a film adaptation - look for it very soon.

We had a late start on Sunday morning, which led to some grumpiness from Mercer and then Jill. We went to Central Park for ice skating, as previously planned, but not until later in the afternoon. That didn't last very long - the skates were  very uncomfortable for all of us. A bit of a waste of money. But, Central Park was beautiful (have I mentioned how beautiful the weather has been? It rained all day on Thanksgiving (ALL DAY!), but since then has been either sunny or mild or both) and we had lunch at Josie's, a cute restaurant serving wholesome and interesting food. We moved out of the other apartment and stayed the night with Mercer, Jill and Timothy.

On Monday morning, A went to see the preschool they've been considering for Timothy. I went to the Guggenheim, with plans to meet up with A for dinner later on. The Guggenheim exhibit was: El Greco to Picasso....something, something. Spanish painters spanning many centuries. I've never seen so many works by Picasso or Salvador Dali - and I loved it. I've always appreciated Picasso, but I forgot how much I LOVE Salvador Dali. It's amazing to me how he can paint something so clearly that it resembles a photograph - and yet, the subject be so surreal, it's right out of a dream. My favorite part of the musuem, however, was the structure itself. I had forgotten that Frank Lloyd Wright had designed the Guggenheim. The exterior is currently being restored, so I couldn't really see the structure itself as it was intended. However, the interior was absolutely beautiful. I am such a fan of FLR, it's crazy. The more of his houses and designs I see, the more I wish for that kind of home. The simple, functional while still beautiful arrangement of space is exactly what I envision for the ecovillage.

After the musuem, I walked a bit down Madison Ave, stopping for coffee at a cafe/market/take out and catering place. While there, I encountered a beautiful young man named Saul, who assisted me in finding the chocolate peanut butter I spied in a gift basket. We did not find the chocolate peanut butter, but I have since discovered where in Denver I can find it, or order it online. In any case, he was so beautiful and sweet - and I should have given him my number. Times like those I regret - although, only slightly...what a fun encounter.

I met A in the East Village for dinner at a wonderful place named Counter, an all vegetarian and mostly organic restaurant. The food was simply divine. We started with a Mezze selection of spinach-feta cigars, eggplant-pepper caviar, and corn bengeits. Mmmm. Then we shared a vegetable mosaic (the maple sweet potatoes were my favorite) and b'steeya, which A and I just loved. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was cool while still being cozy. Love that place.

After the meal we decided to walk around a bit and then find a place for dessert. We searched the Tower records store (Tower's going out of business) for the School House Rock DVD that A drooled over at Tracey and Neal's place. (he wants me to see school house rock; thinks I was deprived as a child) We couldn't find it, but I ordered it online and should get it tomorrow. I've just been finding the coolest holiday gifts for A, it's so fun!

Our dessert destination was Chickalicious, but we discovered it was closed until December 6th. Good thing, though, because we stumbled upon a new Max Brenner's shop and cafe that opened just that day. Wow. I don't know who did the marketing/branding/PR for this guy, but they're fucking brilliant. The whole thing is an experience - of play and chocolate. We paid $20 per person for a dessert and chocolate drink, and loved every single moment. The chocolate was also divine...smooth and rich without being too sugary. Max himself was seated two tables down, and it was cool to see at least some truth to the branding - I was so in love with it all that I feared being completely duped. At least there is a guy named Max Brenner who makes good chocolate.

We returned that night quite fat and happy. Mercer and Jill left that day for a training they're doing in New Jersey, so A and I have had the apartment to ourselves ever since. He and I fooled around again that night....which was....amazing. As I mentioned in a previous post, this trip has been wonderful for the two of us. We've been able to reconnect and share and have fun...and I think both of us have remembered why we fell in love in the first place, and why we've put up with each other all this time. I don't know if I could love any one else the same way I love him. I don't mean anything about depth or quantity - but the flavor of our love and relationship is unique, and I am so happy.

Yesterday was a bit slower paced. We watched old episodes of The Incredible Hulk while doing some work, ate some leftovers for lunch, and headed back to the Theatre District for another attempt to score the $25-each front row tickets for Wicked. A's name was the first called!!!! Holey cow, was that exciting. The lottery ended at 5:00, so we walked around a bit and had drinks at Cosi before the show.

Wicked was published more than 10 years ago, but the musical is fairly new - and they did a very decent job altering the story for stage (and music). It was difficult in some places to see how much some parts of the story were hacked...I mean, adapted. But the performers were beautiful and talented, and the story so fun and bittersweet. Being in the front row was so awesome! A bit difficult to see some parts of the show that were over our heads, but completely worth it to see the orchestra and the faces of the players and to hear their voices directly, not from the speakers behind us. Wow. Again, wow.

After the show we walked around a bit, getting an autograph from one of the players, before deciding to have dinner in the Village. We took the subway down to the West Village and walked around for half an hour before being invited into a cozy little Italian restaurant, Buona Sera, where we were treated royaly. A had a spinach lasagna with basil-cream sauce, which was better than my spinach and cheese ravioli. Dessert was quite interesting - a Chocolate 'Apple' filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Yummy. The owner treated us with glasses of sambuca, which was quite warming. Even A enjoyed the drink, and he hardly ever drinks. We chatted with the owner, Alan, and the last remaining server, Rusty, for a while after our meal. They were both just lovely. What an amazing life we all have - to meet perfect strangers and enjoy their company. We left having made new friends, which I may or may not ever see again....but god...what a beautiful life this is.

I was exhausted after we got back at 2:00. I don't even remember falling asleep. I'm just thrilled with the trip, and with going home. If I want to make it to the museum, though, I must leave now.