New York Minutes, Vol. 7: What's on my mind?

My fellow Facebook addicts are familiar with the status update, the blank box on Facebook begging you to inform the world of your whereabouts, medical conditions, toddlers’ newest tricks, culinary experiments, or whatever else occurs to you. To wit:

Christine temporarily broke her New Year’s resolution of a no-booze January for a Brunello di Montalcino tasting, which is clearly understandable, right?
January 15

Christine decided that not drinking for all of January had too many negative externalities.
January 18

Christine is off to Canyon Ranch spa with mom & sis.
January 29

Christine just took a yoga class with Cyndi Lauper.
January 30

Christine went snowshoeing this morning (yes, with Cyndi Lauper).
February 1

Christine is really sick of Cyndi Lauper.
February 2

Christine is
February 4

Christine occasionally hits “enter” by mistake before typing anything in the status update box.
February 4

Christine is looking forward to spending her birthday on an economy flight to Johannesburg.
February 5

On my birthday I broke another New Year's resolution – to travel less – and went to South Africa with 21 of my fellow term members at the Council on Foreign Relations. We were in turns awestruck by the commitment to reconciliation of those who fought apartheid (makes you feel a little silly for begrudging the colleague who always “borrows” your post-its) and terrified by the problems the country faces - not least because they've just chosen to be led by a man who was recently cleared of corruption charges on a technicality rather than any presumption of innocence.

But my goodness, there are some amazing people doing some amazing work there... and the wine ain't bad neither.

Christine is on the $1 bus home from Boston. Oh, how far the mighty tumble.
March 20

Christine is off to Geneva for the final meeting of blihr.org.
March 29

Christine has been diverted to Montreal on the way home from Geneva, perhaps to refuel with poutine.
April 3

My travel schedule was supposed to be eased by the fact that I no longer work for Big Oil, and therefore cannot just look at my calendar upon receiving an invitation but actually have to think about whether I should make a trip, and then whether I can afford it. But there have been plenty of worthwhile events to attend, and plenty of either cheap ways to get there or people willing to fund me.

Christine fears for a country in which visiting fans are met by police at the train station to be escorted to their fenced-in area of the stadium.
April 13

And then, yes, back to the UK. Southwest England for Easter with the in-laws, Dublin to see friends and imbibe the requisite whiskey and Guinness, and London for a mix of business and pleasure.

Christine seeks 2-4 workspaces in Manhattan, able to pay rent in the form of really great company and kudos for supporting such worthwhile work.
May 4

The kind soul who was hosting my team in his groovy Soho office has had to give up his space, so we’re back on the street - or rather, back into the NYC scene of freelancers who work in coffee shops. Good thing I got a MacBook, as it’s definitely not a PC scene. (In an IBM sort of way, that is -- it’s most certainly a politically correct scene.) So if you know of anyone with space, ideally south of 23rd St…

Christine's project's new report is out!
April 30

But we roll on nonetheless, changing the world, one report at a time. (?)

On the home front, life is good, as the t-shirt says; my husband (who still actively resists Facebook, although his envy at my now being privy to the quotidian movements of his London friends might finally break him down) is still employed on Wall Street, which every day is like a little Christmas present.

As his visa is getting renewed over some indeterminate period of time this year, we’re thinking about staying in the lower 48 for vacation. We’re thinking lower 48, as I’ve been to fewer states in the southeast U.S. than I have countries in southeast Asia. Recommendations welcome.

much love,
cb

P.S. Christine requests that you don't post this to your Facebook page, as she still deludes herself into thinking that she can control with whom she shares what.