Halloween in the city.

Monday morning after a holiday weekend tends to leave me with a vague hungover feeling, though not the alcoholic sort. Halloween has always felt like the precursor, the lead-off to the really big important holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas, finishing up with New Years. There's the Halloween build-up beginning with the little mini bags of candy, supposedly for trick-or-treaters, arriving in drug stores seemingly around mid-July. (Is it any coincidence that Americans have their biggest weight gain in the months September-January?) Then for weeks hearing your kid say, "What should I be?" Meaning 'what amazing costume will you whip up for me on a moment's notice mom?'

It could not have been a more perfect day in New York for Halloween. It was so fun seeing all the little kids — and some big ones too — dressed up all over the city that afternoon. Olivia and I had lunch at our favorite spot in Hell's Kitchen called Amy's Bread. Sort of like Panera, except tiny and they have really amazing bakery goods. It's hard to pick one thing. Then we traveled down, over, to St. Mark's Place in the Village. It feels like home to us over there. Artsy-types, college kids, real bohemian. Sort of an artist, theatre-kid, yoga-loving, vegetarian's paradise. The sidewalks were crammed with people trying on crazy wigs and sunglasses, attempting to pick out their Halloween costume.

Zachary called to say he got his license that morning! Very exciting for him. He was going to Fright Fest at Six Flags, so that would be a fun evening. As Olivia got ready to go out, I suddenly realized I would be sitting here alone. Then I was invited to go to the parade with a friend. I only planned to go for a while. As the group grew—a veritable Benetton ad in the making—I went along with the evolving plans, and ended up having a nice time at a W bar, then hanging out in someone's amazing 58th floor apartment. Here's a view taken with my iPhone, so the quality isn't great, but you get the idea:

Here's Olivia and her friends at the Halloween parade in Greenwich Saturday night. The weather that day was beyond perfect. About 70 degrees and no rain. Right around parade time, the rain arrived. With the rain, her friends lost enthusiasm, went home, and Olivia found herself back at the apartment eating pizza in her pjs. How ironic that I ended up out on the town.

Sunday was the NYC Marathon. I've seen it on TV for years, and couldn't believe my good fortune to be able to walk 2 blocks down the street to watch the real thing. It was quite amazing to see some of the 42,000 runners go down 5th Ave. The weather was really great for them, mild, in the 50s with no rain. Olivia and I walked in the Park for a while. The north end of Central Park is a much-missed area for tourists and visitors. I had never been there until I moved to this area. It's really beautiful, especially now with all the leaves changing color. We have some photos with Libby & the swans that I need to get off her camera.

Then we decided to hang out like NYU students in a coffee shop near the campus. Hooked up our laptop, and sat at tiny tables while balancing cups of steaming chai tea. Good for people watching, but tough for getting homework done. Returned home late in the day to finish up yet another Franny and Zooey project.

Since we had no Halloween candy at all, Olivia decided we needed to venture out to the local CVS in the 'hood to see if they had any 50%-off bags. We bundled up with hats and gloves, and headed out into what was already nighttime. Found several bags of the peanut-buttery types that she loves, but had to get past the already emerging Christmas displays. Geez. We returned to find that someone had placed a piece of candy at each apartment door in our building. I found that so touching in this city where people pass in a blur on the street, but where we are all looking for some amount of human kindness.

I always feel a bit thrown off by a time-change. That one little hour can play havoc with your body. I really hate the idea of it getting dark a whole hour earlier. I'll never quite understand the whole concept.

It seems really quiet outside my window today. I think people are recovering from their sugar highs. I, of course, continue my search for a job this morning.