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just a post, pictures

Back From the City

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It had been about 14 months since I had lost gone to New York City, but that dry spell has ended after this week!  I went back there for some additional training for my job and I have to say I definitely enjoy getting trained in NYC rather than in the Atlanta airport vicinity.   But that’s just me.   I’m very appreciative of this week’s training as I got an increased visibility into just what it is I can expect to be doing and I got to learn some valuable skills that I want to keep perfecting, especially in the Spotfire and Tableau realms.  I also met some great people who were also going through this session – networking, networking, networking!  The also fantastic part of this week was that Larry was also back in NYC with me, but he was here for his own job.  There’s also some hopeful news coming from there and which I hope to report on very soon.  Fingers crossed.

The time spent there certainly wasn’t a vacation although there was time in the evening to at least get out a little.  Walking around New York during the morning and evening rush hours was invigorating, and I got to recognize that even though I thought I was a fast-walker, Los Angeles speeds don’t compare at all to the NYC walking pace.  I was once one of their number, but you do chill a bit back here on the west coast.

Anyway, I took some pictures, of course, while back.  I revisited the United Nations (exterior, at least), finally got in and saw the Daily Planet globe, braved Grand Central Terminal, and of course the views of the PwC building in Midtown Manhattan.  So there’s pictures of those things, but not much more as it was damn cold while we were there.  Well, Larry is still there until tomorrow night, and apparently it snowed today.  I’m happy to be enjoying the 70-80 degree temps here.

Monday, March 16, 2015 – First Day back

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16-Mar-2015 18:01, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 50
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16-Mar-2015 18:01, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 64
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16-Mar-2015 18:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 50
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16-Mar-2015 18:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 50
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16-Mar-2015 18:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 320
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A few of my favorite places
A few of my favorite places16-Mar-2015 18:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 50
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16-Mar-2015 18:03, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 40
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16-Mar-2015 18:03, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 125
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16-Mar-2015 18:03, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160
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Los Angeles!
Los Angeles!16-Mar-2015 18:04, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.042 sec, ISO 250
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My hotel for the week on the east side of 42nd St
My hotel for the week on the east side of 42nd St16-Mar-2015 18:06, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 32
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The lit-up Chrysler Building just down the street
The lit-up Chrysler Building just down the street16-Mar-2015 19:50, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 320
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16-Mar-2015 19:50, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
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It's such a fantastic skyline component
It's such a fantastic skyline component16-Mar-2015 19:53, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 640
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16-Mar-2015 20:06, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
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Oh Blue Smoke, how I missed thee.

Tuesday, March 17

Monday’s training was in one of the basement conference rooms, but Tuesday’s was on the 7th floor and hence we were afforded a bit of a view!  After training, I went to visit the exterior of the United Nations, as now that I’d built it in LEGO, I felt like I knew it.  I really loved taking a tour of the UN shortly before leaving NYC in 2010 – highly recommend it to anyone!  For dinner, I was on my own so I wandered to Grand Central’s restaurant concourse in the lower level and treated myself to Shake Shack.  Honestly, it wasn’t as good as I had remembered – maybe I’m truly an In-N-Out man?

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17-Mar-2015 08:54, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 50
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St Patty's day was slightly rainy in the morning
St Patty's day was slightly rainy in the morning17-Mar-2015 08:54, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 64
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As you'll see, plenty of people took today off to drink regardless of rain or time of day
As you'll see, plenty of people took today off to drink regardless of rain or time of day17-Mar-2015 11:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 32
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Yep - loud too
Yep - loud too17-Mar-2015 11:02, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 50
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Lots and lots of celebration
Lots and lots of celebration17-Mar-2015 11:03, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 11:12, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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The pwc logo awaits thee!
The pwc logo awaits thee!17-Mar-2015 15:11, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 16:53, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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Grand Central feels like a special place and time within Midtown
Grand Central feels like a special place and time within Midtown17-Mar-2015 16:54, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 16:54, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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The UN!
The UN!17-Mar-2015 17:52, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 17:52, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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Bridges in the distance!
Bridges in the distance!17-Mar-2015 17:52, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 17:52, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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17-Mar-2015 17:53, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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Wednesday, March 18

Back in the basement that day, but I did want to see what the PwC building actually looked like from the outside.  It’s kind of the midst of everything in Midtown so you really can’t see it and then all of a sudden, you’re there and walking into the very spacious white lobby.  It’s a very nice building – and then Osman took me to lunch in the cafeteria and I got very jealous because the LA office does NOT have such luxuries!  🙂

18-Mar-2015 08:47, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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18-Mar-2015 08:47, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 32
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18-Mar-2015 08:47, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 32
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Thursday, March 19

And finally, the last day of training.  This day, we were on the 21st (!!!) floor and the view was stunning from the conference room’s windows.  Stunning.  You got a singular view of the Chrysler Building and a nice overhead view of Grand Central.  You could also see the thin sliver of what will be the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere as it keeps building higher, 432 Park.  We could see the construction elevators going up and down and you could NOT pay me to go on that.  Nope, not at all going to happen.

My flight was leaving that evening after the training as that was what we had been told to schedule, but damn, if there is a next time doing this, I will have to rethink it all.  You see, trying to leave Manhattan towards JFK at 4pm, which is early-ish, is a horrible idea.  Normally, the ride can take about an hour or so, even with traffic.  But this ride?  It took me just under 2 hours.  Luckily, I had made the command decision to cut out a touch early as my flight was at 6:45pm and I realized, I can’t leave at 4:30pm and hope to make my flight.  Sure enough, that 2-hour cab ride meant I got there with just less than an hour to get checked in and to the gate.  I ended up arriving at the gate and being nearly the last to check in.  That’s cutting it close.  I made the flight though (one of the new American Airlines jets with some tricked-out business and first class sections and Hobie wants that now, please), decided to watch Moneyball as I hadn’t seen it (I know!) on the entertainment system and now I’m back.

Flying a lot is exhausting.  But I actually will have a Sunday this weekend and I am fucking thrilled.  Larry will be back by then and I won’t be flying out and all will be nice in the world.

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Grand Central from our 21st floor perch
Grand Central from our 21st floor perch19-Mar-2015 08:55, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 32
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The Chrysler Building was right there!
The Chrysler Building was right there!19-Mar-2015 10:09, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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MetLife (former Pan Am) building too
MetLife (former Pan Am) building too19-Mar-2015 10:09, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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432 Park in the distance - it may look not that imposing from this angle, but it's realllly far away
432 Park in the distance - it may look not that imposing from this angle, but it's realllly far away19-Mar-2015 10:09, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 10:09, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 10:09, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:22, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:22, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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Thanks, Google Auto-Awesome
Thanks, Google Auto-Awesome19-Mar-2015 12:22, Apple iPhone 6, 4.15mm
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19-Mar-2015 12:24, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:24, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:49, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:49, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:50, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 32
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19-Mar-2015 12:52, Apple iPhone 6, 2.2, 4.15mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 32
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pictures, pop culture

It’s 2015, Big Eyes!

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Larry & I made it through a nice and relaxing and stress-free NYE last night, watching Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN’s NYE broadcast from Times Square.  They were of course endlessly entertaining and made us laugh throughout the night, while we kept warm at home and enjoyed a quite delicious bottle of Saddlebrook Champagne from the local Malibu Wines.  After the previous 2 years, it’s good to have had a simple and harmless event.  And despite usually having a terrible hangover from champagne, this was good stuff and we were pretty good this morning!

One of the first things I ended up doing was putting together my gift from Alyssa & Jon:  a LEGO set of the United Nations!  As has been readily apparent, I am all about these LEGO Architecture sets.  They’re so much fun to put together and I’ve been loving the sets of places that I’ve actually been to, as I also have a Rockefeller Center set and then the one that Larry got me for my birthday, the Trevi Fountain.  The white pieces and the clear blue pieces are beautiful – I can’t imagine taking these sets apart, but if I did, they’d be fun elements to build something with.

So first, here are my pics of the LEGO set:

And since I seemed to have not posted these on my site even back in 2010, here’s the pics I took back from December 2010 when I went and visited the United Nations.  It had been on my list of places I wanted to visit and I wasn’t leaving NYC without doing so.  It was very awesome to get a chance to go there, and I even got some pics in the General Assembly!  I can’t remember why Larry didn’t go with me though, but afterwards I met up with my friend and former co-worker Pravi in Midtown for lunch and goodbyes.  Feels like forever ago!

December 23, 2010 – Visiting the United Nations

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23-Dec-2010 09:42, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 125
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23-Dec-2010 10:29, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:29, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:29, Apple iPhone 4, 2.8, 3.85mm, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 200
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23-Dec-2010 10:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 10:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80
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23-Dec-2010 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 200
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23-Dec-2010 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 200
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23-Dec-2010 11:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
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23-Dec-2010 11:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 200
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Finally, time to the title and featured image of the post!  We went out and saw the movie Big Eyes this afternoon, and then grabbed some dinner at the Mexican restaurant there at the Americana called Frida.  Good food, and a great movie!

Big-Eyes-movie-posterBig Eyes (2014)

Saw this on January 1, 2015 at Pacific Theaters at Americana

This Tim Burton movie (!) tells the real-life story of Margaret and Walter Keane, who were married and responsible for the artwork known primarily because of the subjects’ giant eyes.  Here’s the trailer:

As it shows, Margaret was the actual artist of these drawings and paintings, while her husband Walter took the credit for it and was the one who promoted and sold the hell out of them.  She would be toiling on the paintings in secret back at home while the world thought Walter Keane was the talent.  It was the late 1950s and early 1960s so the social mindsets seemed to lean towards skepticism of female artists, so Walter took it upon himself to be the front man.  Watching this all go down from 2015, it is really hard to watch.  Amy Adams as Margaret is amazing but you want to just scream at her character that she deserves so much better!   Alas, she goes along with this arrangement for a long while, until of course she doesn’t.

Both Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz are great in the roles – she is especially good in the role, even though it requires her to rein in a lot and play someone who is bound by her domineering husband and fear of what would happen if she were to say something.  Waltz is on full smarm mode but that is what the role calls for, and you just want to punch him in the face.  But that’s him doing a great job as Walter Keane!  I think what is surprising is how little this feels like a Tim Burton movie, as he’s the same director of such movies as Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, to name just a few.  There’s a moment where you get some of his signature weirdness in the movie, but besides that, it’s a very traditional-style movie.  Larry pointed out that still there is a lot of composition of shots that Burton pulls off that help frame the movie much like a 1960s postcard which does require some directorial flair.  Regardless, it’s a very good movie and left me wondering how the Keane artwork is formally recognized now?