Blind Prophecy

You know how I love taking photos of everything, all the time? Surprisingly, I haven’t snapped many pictures of my first week in Nueva York. I did get a couple, though.

I already showed you this one of the view from my room.

Here’s the reverse view, with an indication of where to stalk me. Especially if you’re wealthy and not especially demanding of my time or attention.

This is me passing through Columbus Circle on my very first day after moving my stuff in and dropping off the rental car. For some reason my forearm looks really, really hairy, which it isn’t. Was I having a Jason Bateman in Teen Wolf Too moment or something?

Reading and studying in the study lounge that looks out over the Hudson River.

I haven’t actually seen the person responsible for this New York Bar Exam inspired mess, but every day it looks a little messier. The test was administered this week, so best wishes anonymous law school graduate.

If I can be said to have any silly rituals, this is one of them. I pick places in each city I visit that are important touchstones for me. In San Francisco, it’s a specific clam chowder place near Fisherman’s Wharf. In Salt Lake, it’s driving a particular stretch of road. In Las Vegas, it’s stopping in for a drink at a particular bar. In Reno, it’s walking the halls of my alma mater. And in New York, it’s a visit to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. Even if I never come back here again as long as I live here, I had to “check in” before I felt like I was really here. (Interestingly, I don’t have a place picked out for Cincinnati. Most places don’t get a touchstone location until the second visit.)

As long as I was out and wet from the rain, I figured I’d walk down to Times Square and check out the new TKTS booths and pedestrian-friendly lawn chairs. Unfortunately, that put me in the theatre district at about 7:30 on a Friday night.

But serious question, with my recent weight loss, do you think my face is looking jowly? I can’t help but think my face looks older and droopier in recent photos. I would shave my beard and see if that takes off a few years, but I’m almost afraid it will make matters worse. You’ll tell me if I’m starting to look like Mitch McConnell, right? Can anyone point me toward a plastic surgeon willing to do pro bono work?

Filed under: NYC, personal by Jere Keys