Working in the Clouds

Living in the city, man, it's a bit different! The office itself is, well, an office! It's a nice environment, generally more casual than where I worked before, which of course is great and much appreciated. The view from the 24th floor, also quite different! Through the windows on our floor, I can see in basically all directions except west, since there's a building taller than ours next door, and I can't see through buildings... yet.

For a bit of difference yesterday, my coworker opened up the window, and for a few hours, it was as though we were just floating on a magic cloud, high above the streets of Midtown. The sound was a nice mixture of natural street sounds, the occasional siren, and just generally soothing. So different than the rumbling air ducts of old. Occasionally the whirring of the elevator filters through, which sounds kind of like futuristic blender.

What does your workplace sound like? Is it just an office, or do you get to enjoy a nice mix of sound?

Visiting Japan

Yesterday was pay day. And just any regular ol' pay day, it was the first one from my new job. And considering how much money we spent to get out here, it was a pretty damn good feeling to have something incoming. And what else could we do than go and spend a little bit of it?

So, it was Japan night. We met up with an old friend from OU and headed out... to Japan. First stop, a local izakaya called Hagi, which had a huge wait. Got our name on the list and headed back to the states for a round at Applebees (the VIP lounge made it feel very un-Applebeesish), and then made it to Ireland for another round. It was time to go back to Japan at that point, where we sat down at the counter, devouring some most delectible items such as daikon salad, raw bonito, and chicken gizzards. Then! We headed back in time to another locale called Kenka (fight!) located on St. Marks place. Totally 1930's pre-war Japan! Their huge selection of shochu worked nicely as we finished off some wasabi octopus and kimchi. Though, we decided to pass on their bull penises and other odd entries. The best part? When you leave, they give you grains for their cotton candy machine! Nothing like making it yourself at who-knows-how-late-it-is in the morning!

At that point, it was time to call it a night, and we came back to Brooklyn and headed for the barn. How many countries have you been before in a night?

On a Roll

And they just keep coming now. Ideas for Brownbun clips, that is! After a serious drought of not putting up any new videos, I've started going through the back catalog. Quite a lot in there actually! Would like to start scripting out an actual short film, but until then, gotta keep making these to keep the creative juices flowing. Like super thick, 100% from concentrate with pulp orange juice.

Sievil de Picardi Launches Brownbun 2 (via Youtube)

Where I Work

So! Quite a weekend that involved a bit of Chinatown, Williamsburg (always down for more Barcade), and Ikea. We quickly found out the problem with buying furniture in the city: delivery! I'm now concocting an genius plan to get it back to our place. Pushcarts and shuttles involved!

And, behold! The first of a few pictures of taken around the office. Note, that this is quite different from where I was before! If you live in a big city like this one, probably this will look quite banal. For those in the Midwest, different! 

Around the Office (via Facebook)

Back to Brown

I decided it was time to put together a new clip showcasing some of the recent footage I shot while moving out to the city. What a trip! With everything we've gone through to get here, the whole experience has been very surreal to say the least! Hence, a decisively brown video! Figured I could tap some unusual arrangements that way.

Without further ado, may I present to you the new mini-series, "Brownbun". It's out there!

Raddy Tutenheimer Presents Brownbun 1 (via youtube)

City Meltdown

This week has certainly been quite an interesting ride for me. Starting a new job in a big city and all that moving! So its nice to have settled in a bit now, having set up the apartment to a semi-functional state and started working. Thing is, the day I got here, the city blew up. Meltdown, that is!

I couldn't even follow it as it happened. I'm talking about the Lehman Brothers incident which has the city, the nation shook up right now. The day I start working in the city, passing through the Wall St. station, everything went corrupt! Though my business should be unaffected by this, it's certainly an ominous feeling to have! 

Now comes the fun part of seeing how impacted I am by this. Hopefully, little!

At Home, At Work

It's been a long time since I've had what I would consider a long-term home. Too long! Been living out of a suitcase since I moved out of my house in March. Finally, on our fourth day of searching, we found something we liked, forked over added broker fee, and signed the lease. Picked up the keys at 6pm on Friday. And thus came the challenge: head back to Cincinnati to get all of our belongings and get moved back to the city in time to start work on Monday morning.

It was crazy. We left the city at 6:30 pm on Friday night amidst a huge rain storm. Getting out of the city is right on par with getting out of any large city: endless rows of red lights, people honking, angry faces. We pushed through it all and made it out all right, and drove the long, long 11 and a half hour drive back. It was a most surreal experience, and when the thick fog hit us in Western Pennsylvania, I thought for sure we were descending into something most out of this world. But we made it back alright, and pulled into my parents' driveway at 6 am.

Awake again at 11, I left with my folks to pick up the truck. The rest of the day was spent dumping unwanted items in storage, packing the truck, sorting laundry, and trying not to think about doing it all over again. Completely exhausted by 10:30, we passed out for a bit before the alarm went off again at 5:30. Lunches were made and goodbyes were said, and we were out the door by 6:45.

We made good time on the way back, despite driving a huge moving truck. So much gas used though! Back in the city by 6:45, and started to unpack. We were assisted by a friend and got everything inside, how we did it I'm not sure. Really wasn't thinking clear by that point! After a few beers, we were beat. Found just enough space to throw down the futon and crash.

Awoken at 7 am the next day by my cell phone, I got my stuff together and went out to find the place to drop off the truck. Way further out than anticipated! I found the place eventually and got everything checked in, then made the realization I had no idea where the nearest train line to get me to work was! A kind lady told me of a bus to catch, so I found the nearest bus station and began my wait. First bus came... and kept on going! Second bus, no different! Finally, the third bus stopped and I got on.

Problem!

Can't pay for the bus with cash, only quarters or cards. Well! I got off, ran to store, got change, and of course, the bus was gone. It was getting kind of late at this point, so I began to run. Imagine me, the first day of work, running through Brooklyn trying to find a station. And finally, I snagged it: the last train on the 2-5 line. I ran downstairs and hopped the first train I could. It was quite a ride, not sure how many stops, but finally, FINALLY I made it to Grand Central Terminal. I made the short walk from there, rode the elevator up, and was greeted by my new boss, who had just walked in. No worries!

And just like that, I had made the move. My apartment still has a lot of work, and I'm sure it will take some time to get up to speed on what's going on here, but man, it sure feels good to get that monkey off my back.

Special cheers to everyone who helped us through this incredible life change!

Day 4, Accept the Broker Fee...

It's day 4 now of our search for a place. We saw some properties yesterday that we really liked, but: they're all with broker fees. Which is basically a LOT of money to fork over.

The concept of the broker fee is new to us. Essentially, the landlord turns over the property to a realty agent to have them show the place and take care of getting them the tenant. That cost associated with the listing then gets passed on to us! The places we looked at yesterday wanted 10% of the annual rent. Possibly negotiable!

Anyway, the search is getting old. We're running our numbers and thinking we might sign something today, and just accept the fee. Decisions, man!

Day 2 of Apartment Hunt: Still Nothing

Atlantic Avenue.
St. James Place.
Park Place.
I'm stuck inside a huge game of Monopoly.

Been out driving like mad the past two days trying to find a new home. Seen quite a few places, quite a few faces! Driving here is quite a bit different from driving anywhere else. It's packed streets at almost all times (9-10am isn't too bad, but certainly a worthy warm-up), more aggressive and high-paced than some professional sports. Try doing all this with no knowledge of the roads, either! My general approach has been to shoot for a direction and just pray I hit a cross street I recognize. Other than an incident in northern Brooklyn today that got me a bit tangled up, we've made it to our destinations with pretty solid results. Except for the apartment acceptance thing.

By the numbers, and this is just a best guess at this point, we've logged the following:
10 apartments we've entered and walked around,
3 neighborhoods we're seriously considering,
2 apartments that we've actually carefully considered,
1 apartment we had to turn down due to poor location from a station,
1 appointment we stood up due to bad timing (and hopefully this is not a bridge we burned, since the guy has quite a few in the area),
and 1 more night in the hotel.

It's crunch time, and we're starting to feel it. Here's to a good search tomorrow!

Ready! Set! Find Beer!

Trip preparations...check.
Logistics planning...check.
Knowledge of completely flawed Pennsylvania beer laws... wait, wtf?

Yesterday was a smooth sailing for us. We made it to good ol' Harrisburg, PA, which surprisingly, was quite a happening place! (Except for the smell of our lodging room... woof! We set out for dinner right after!) After enjoying $1 draft pints of Yuengling and half price summer foods, it was time to check out the state capitol building and head back to hotel room. Stopping for beer on the way, of course!

But! It's just not that simple as we came to find. We made it to the first gas station by our hotel - no luck! We tried the BP station next door... nothing there either! Third time's a charm, right? So we headed across the interstate to the only other possible, larger gas station. AND NO BEER THERE EITHER!

So I explained my situation to the lady behind the counter:

"Excuse me, I'm not from around here. But I've noticed you don't have beer for sale, nor do the other places around here. Do you happen to know of anywhere I can find some?".

"Well... turn around and go back across the interstate. There's a Pizza Hut or the Doc Holiday (another restaurant), they'll sell it to you at the bar.".

It turns out, as I came to find out via the ever-courteous barkeep at Doc Holiday, that the entire state is flawed such that the only place you can buy beer is either a beer store or from a bar. We chose the latter, paying $9 for a 6-pack. (Individuals were sold at full bar prices of $2.75 each). I gave him a $1 tip fo his sad recounting of truly flawed legal system.

Do you know of any flawed state beer laws?

Ready to go!

Just finished sorting through piles of stuff to move / pitch / place in attic. Setting off tomorrow to find a place in NY! We're stopping for the night in Harrisburg, then making it to Brooklyn on Tuesday. If you know of any great places, let me know! We'll be searchin'....

Hoping to find something great, and soon!

The Sendoff

Hooray for logistics planning! My poor brain is about filled with maps, strategies, and ideas for the upcoming conquest into new territory. At this point, I've got my next week mostly planned out, with some slight things left to address. So! Here's to hoping things go as planned, and that my plan B's are just as strong. Next week will involve a lot of windshield time, so I'm trying to psych myself up for that as well. Damn shame Reiko's license is expired!

My last band I was in had a song called The Sendoff... it's currently on an infinite loop in my head. Though, I can't recall if there's a decent recording of it! Will check, yeah?

In the meantime, tonight is the big sendoff from the company. One last bought to the local watering hole called Hinders. A feast of chicken wings, potato skins and plentiful beer is on the horizon.

What have you done in the past for going away parties?

Fall is here!

Reiko and I headed down to see the WEBN Fireworks at Riverfest last night for the first time in a few years. Quite a show! We didn't end up leaving my folks house until after 6, leaving us with little parking options and a bit of walk. Popped our heads in a local watering hole where we stopped for a drink, and then made our way down to the levee. We had really great seats just right outside the Purple People Eater bridge, giving us a really nice view of the show. Nice array of visuals with notable new pieces during the Johnny Cash "Ring of Fire" (the fire spinwheels!) and these cool zooming swarms used during Nine Inch Nails "Discipline". And on that note, good audio program all around, too!

And thus brought in the beginning of the new season for us! I've always thought of the Labor Day fireworks as the end of summer (as a kid, I was already back in school for a week or so). This year's a bit different for us, as I'm going into my last week of work with OTC. In a way, it was a "going out with a bang", and signified the beginning of the end for our time here in Ohio. We're both really excited about the move (though! not the moving), and look forward to getting on.

On with the fall!