Friday, sunny Friday.

Outside my window this morning it is sunny. It's looking like an optimal Fall day in the Northeast. Dorothy, we are not in Kansas, or St. Louis, anymore. You'll be happy to know, or not, that I took the bike out for a nice little trip yesterday afternoon. It was pretty nice out, a little chilly as I zipped through the park on my way to a brand new Whole Foods over on Columbus & 96th. St. Louisians would be green with envy at the amazingly huge WF stores we have in NYC. Why do I not shop here every day? Oh right, cause there's that little service called Fresh Direct that delivers boxes of food to my door. Even though I've lost about 20 pounds since I moved to this city, life is really all about the food. Don't you agree? My cooking skills are improving, and I'm feeling more creative about trying new (vegetarian) dishes.

Halloween is in the air. I'm feeling surprisingly sad about this little holiday. What is this event like in New York? Do little princesses and vampires show up at my apartment door? Do I ooh and ahh over their costumes like I did on Barrett Drive? Maybe it's a Midwest thing. It was actually a pretty big deal at our house over the 20+ years, starting with the handmade clown outfit for Alexis when she was less than a year old. After that, year after year, we tried to outdo ourselves with unique, homemade, thrift-store purchased items. They weren't always unusual themes, but never pulled from a package. Glinda, Madeline, a doctor, a cowboy, a geisha, a mime, zombie, Olivia as Elvis, a really great pirate (think Capn Jack Sparrow), so many more. It was all fun. Our neighborhood was so popular for trick-or-treaters that I swear kids were bused in. They would come in waves. The last couple of years there seemed to be very few kids. Lots of older teens, who didn't even live in our area, holding out pillowcases, saying in deep gruff voices, "Gimmee some candy." Maybe that's what it will be like here.

Olivia and I put together an Alice in Wonderland costume for her. I was forced to buy pre-packaged items, as I did not have our huge dress-up box or sewing machine at my disposal. We did buy add-on items to make it really cute. Photos soon. She has new friends, and apparently a boyfriend, that are going to the Halloween parade in Greenwich Saturday night. Is this safe? So strange to be the mom of a young teen girl in New York City. I'm always fraught with some sort of angst. I suppose I'll sit at home with a bowl of mini candy bars awaiting potential knocks at the door. If they don't come, at least I'll have that bowl of my little friends.

Firetrucks! God, they are so loud here. Okay, they're loud everywhere, but the sound is amplified in these streets that are bordered by tall buildings and hi-rises. There were about 4 outside our building the other night, along with various other emergency vehicles. I never saw any fire hoses being pulled out or ladders going up to flaming windows. Pretty soon it all dispersed. Maybe there was a cat in a tree or something.

Olivia got to reunite with her friend Kate Baldwin who is starring in Broadway's Finian's Rainbow. She performed at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble to promote the release of her new CD. Olivia & Kate were in Sound of Music together at the Muny. Obviously they were very happy to see each other:

I'm leaving soon to go to the PPAS parent-teacher conferences. Unlike at home, you do not get an appointment. I have to go sign in and wait. Hmm. Since O will only have a half day, she and her friends are going to see the new Michael Jackson movie, This Is It.