Day 1 - New York City - Enjoying New York City

I'm here on business for a few days. I got here this morning, went to my hotel (Skyline at 49th & 10th Avenue), and then went for a run in Central Park like in the old days. It was hot--in the 80s--and the hills I used to run on every day were a little more difficult than I was expecting. I am getting old. On the way home from the run, I stopped by my old condo. The doorman recognized me before I saw him--and it's been 6 years since I saw him the last time.

After a shower, I hiked back up to Columbus Avenue and walked through a street festival that stretched from 63rd St to 84th. Same old stuff as a Wisconsin street fair. Then I hiked a block over to 83rd and Amsterdam Ave (10 Ave) to have a cooler at the Raccoon Lodge--one of my old hangouts. Unfortunately, it was sold 3 months ago and is now called Crossroad. I called up Doug back in Wisconsin and talked to him for a half hour. Then I stopped at McDonald's for a quick bite. Then I got tired and went back to the hotel to take a nap. I slept a few hours. Then Vicky called from Arkansas to say she and Vicki booked our trip to Eastern Europe already. I have to do it tommorrow. We're leaving April 27 to May 13.

After the nap, I took a walk around the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood I'm staying in. It was dark so Times Square was all lit up. I then walked up to the Letterman Show theater on 53rd and Broadway. Even saw Rupert Jee's Hello Deli, but it was closed. Guess he makes so much money from his cameo appearances on Letterman that he doesn't have to work Sundays. Then I went over to West Side Cottage II restaurant on 47th and 9th Ave for some excellent Chinese food. I had lemon chicken. The bill came to a mere $11. Then I hiked a few blocks over to the hotel to watch the Prime Time Emmy's (most TV I've watched in a long time).

Well, it's time for bed. Got to meet some outside consultants I'm going to be working with for the next six months at their offices in Soho, then down to the Financial District to the office for a bunch of meetings. Oh joy.

Got to go.