manhattan manhattan

how i love thee....

so we're back in the city, after an executive's wish executed (with impressive and unerring swiftness, i might add). i feel like i'm back from exile, and slowly coming back to life. (though it's been tough revitalizing the social life. after almost a year in jerz, i've pretty much lost all my friends in manhattan...not that i ever had many).

how things have changed since a few weeks ago. i'm thankful to still have a job (and with the never-resting axe, i can't take it for granted), my commute time's cut in less than half, and the space is sweet. airy and loftlike, we're in the old nat'l biscuit co factory, where they used to make oreos and other deliciousness. (and where purveyors of fine foods still do...contributing to my lethal brownie habit, now 5 days running).

i'm right in the middle of what feels like an ad agency or an architecture firm. in contrast to our offices in jerz, where we had telephone rooms, meeting rooms, a lactation room and even prayer rooms, there's no privacy here.

for example, here's a recent email exchange:

designer (who sits two desks behind me): "i didn't mean to sneak a peek at your monitor, but that header is orange! it should be green! could you send me the url?"

me: "ummm, i feel a little violated. are you going to be stalking me a lot? here's the url."

designer: "sorry. i was going to lie and say that i was just looking at the site and noticed it...blah blah blah. but really, your computer is just sitting there all exposed."

me: "you could avert your eyes. my computer is shy."

designer: "yeah, it was blushing. i won't look anymore, i promise!"

not that i mind, really. i'm so happy to be back in the city that i'd be ecstatic working in a broom closet. i love it.

if this doesn't pan out though, i have an idea.  as three coworkers walked past yesterday, they stopped and gathered around my desk.

coworker 1: "that looks good!" (eyeing my lunch)

coworker 2: "did you get that from the place downstairs?"

me: "i made it!" (with a tiny bit of pride)

coworker 3: "mmm..."

which leads me to my bright idea. i half wonder if i should open my own business....lunchbox orders straight from brooklyn (oh the novelty!). half what you would pay downstairs.