I find it fascinating that now at the very end of my days here in Miami that I have met and made so many good friends. Real people that I feel very aligned with in many ways. The irony. Of course I am very excited to be moving to nyc just the same.

It is just past 2 am on Miami beach. The entire island was evacuated due to the hurricane. It is a dead zone. Opus and I decided early this morning that we would not evacuate but instead just go to the office and work all day. there was not a soul on the streets of this usually crowded little metropolitan isle. Worked at the office for a good twelve hours as I have every night for two weeks straight now including Saturdays and Sundays.

Came home, we made a delicious meal of pasta with garlic and fresh tomatoes. Drank a whole bottle of red bicycleta red wine from France. Opus works in the wine business so I have learned much about wine in the few short weeks I have been staying here. also because he is from Spain we listen to mainly Spanish music: lagrimas negras, estopa, la oreja de van gogh. Good stuff. Spanish, not South American, by the way, which is the norm in these parts. The majority of “Latin music” that is popular in the Americas is made in the Americas. South American or United States. But Spanish music is much different. It is very European and when you are listening to it you could just as easily be listening to music from France or Italy. They all have that same euro-pop vibe.

I am typing here in the middle of a hurricane by the way. these strong winds are howling through the house. the lights are flickering on and off. Phones are down. I have the sliding door open because I am crazy of course and well I refuse not to smoke while I write. So seeing that I cannot actually go outside because there is a torrential rainstorm out there flooding the streets as I write this, I choose instead to sit by the sliding door with it open, huge gusts of wind and gallons of water hitting me in the face every few seconds. But I smoke and write anyway. Because that is what I do.

Current screening: Churchill. Three hour PBS documentary on the old lion. Good study material.

Current read: ironically just I had met Ariel, the Israeli girl in nyc a few weeks ago, I found this book at this apt I am temporarily staying at called ‘Israel: triumph of the spirit.’ So I started to read about the history of Israel and the Jewish people. as I have a hundred times before. something apocalyptic inherent in them and of course no one knows why exactly; its just there... on the one hand they're the most well read intelligent peaceful kindest people you could ever want to meet; on the other hand, everyone seems to be afraid of or threatened by them for some reason.

Having grown up in South Florida in my early years, many of my friends were and still are Jewish. I've never felt that threat, even though antisemitismanti-semitism was pounded into me from an early age from my grandparents. I never took it seriously though because all of my Jewish friends always seemed nicer than my own grandparents were.

Came home to a totally packed house. even my clothes and dishes. Everything. Rosanna was told, by me, to pack up the little I had not put into storage and had in the little temp apt so I could move out when I got back. have to move out of here now AND the apt in New York is ready for me to move in to. so now its just up to me getting the nerve up to actually make the move for real. Still feel very nervous and hesitant about it even though I've done all this work and prep for it. our trip to Atlanta really showed us how much we are missing by not living in America. The people were so nice and friendly and polite and well mannered and smart and cool. totally diff than in Miami.

I am exhausted and all I want is a bath and a bed.

On the plane now. yesterday was glorious. Great weather all over the city. clear and breezy. Looked at many places. In the early morning bumped into Boo Boo Kitty by chance on the street. I thought she was still in Europe. she had just returned. She was just waking up and coming downstairs to get the paper. she came around with me all day looking at properties. We hired a car for a few hours and had him drive us through all these neighborhoods uptown that I had never seen. Morningside, Harlem, Washington heights, inwood, Bronx. It was fun and we learned a lot.

I may have found a place yesterday. Park avenue near grand central. I had this mantra going concerning my new apt: space light view elevator doorman roof deck. Say it fast three times. Well this place has it all except for the space. it can’t be more than 400 sq ft. but it has a 360 degree view of midtown Manhattan on the roof deck and everything else in my list. Huge windows with a southern view. Its good. both doorman and elevator man. BUT its small. About the size of a hotel room. and its midtown. What this means is that you don't get any of that old-school new York vibe that you crave when you go to new York. You get that new-school mid town vibe. All the fancy places, but none of the grungy places. You know I totally forgot to add neighborhood to my mantra. Now I realize I forgot something pretty important. Not that midtown park avenue is a bad address. Just not sure its right for me. will have to see.

But boy do I feel good there in that city.