Halfway Hip

Hotel Chelsea, room 219

Here's what I could dig up from a Google of "Hotel Chelsea, room 219." This entry at Wikipedia led me to find out about...

The band Fever Marlene recorded their latest album in the room we stayed in. They also are making a documentary about it. I was so stoked to see this footage from our room!

The #1 has footage of the lobby, stairwell, and hallway as you walk up to 219. The camera tries to film through the bullet hole in the doorway that separates the wing from stairwell. Awwwww....I'm already getting a little maudlin about it, and it's only been 2 weeks!

I had never heard of the band, but I do like what I've heard so far on Itunes. The album that was recorded in room 219, "White China," isn't available there yet.

I didn't write this before, but there was a documentary being shot while we were there. They were interviewing an older man (not sure who he was, but he was obviously someone important) during one afternoon while we were coming and going. So, we might be in the background if any of those shots make it into the movie. I think the movie is Chelsea on the Rocks.

I think I may have to have a little Chelsea Film Fest soon. I've seen all the movies mentioned, but it's been a long time. I think I saw "Sid and Nancy" in high school. I do remember thinking that "Chelsea Walls" really sucked, but I'd be willing to give it another go.

Aidan Turns Six

I'm kind of sad about it! These days, I almost can't help but gawk at him. His body has changed so much in the past year. There's not an ounce of baby fat left. His legs and arms are so incredibly long and lean. His legs are hairy, which won't come as a shock to those of you who have met Matt. His personality is developing by leaps and bounds. I posted a line by Bill Murray's character in "Lost in Translation" in my old blog a few years ago, and I think it's very apt now: "It gets a whole lot more complicated....when you have kids. It's the most terrifying day of your life. The day the first one is born. Your life, as you know it, is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk, and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you'll ever meet in your life."

I remember that when I first wrote down that quote, I couldn't wait to get to that point with my own children. I think it's finally arrived. Mostly.

Last year, we had a Pirate Party here at home. Because it was here at home, our tiny home, we could only invite about 10 friends. For the past year, I've known that I wanted to have a bigger party so that we could invite everyone. I really wish that we could do a party at a park, but that's a very dicey proposition during the first week of December. So, we decided to rent out the local skating rink for 2 hours and invite everyone. At my latest count, we have 88 people coming. The party will be no-frills...just a grocery-store cupcake on a napkin for each kid. No balloons, no streamers, no table cloths, no effin goodie bags. The skating is the reason for the season. So is the music, which Aidan helped us select. Aidan's choices include "For Reasons Unknown" by The Killers, "Disappear" by INXS and "C'Mere" by Interpol. I've also put some of his kid music on there, such as "Puff the Magic Dragon" (kind of a downer at a party, but whatever) and "Mahna Mahna" by Cake. Oh, and some Dan Zanes, too. Every night this week, Matt and I have been working on either the cd or the DVD slide show, which will be projected onto the big wall at the rink. Aidan will get to choose where we eat dinner after the party (which ends at 6:00). It will be interesting to see what he picks.