Society for Aesthetic Deletions

The Oscar nominations are out.

A year ago today, I was in New York City. The Financial District, to be exact. I had gone to our New York City office, to help them with some upgrades and do some installs. I found a bed & breakfast right around the corner from the office, on Nassau Street (our office is on John Street). This B&B was really a back room with a wonderful bathroom attached, off of someone's apartment. Hell, with rents like they are, I'd imagine every little bit helps.

I had arrived by train the day before, taken the subway in the right direction totally by accident, and wheeled myself and my luggage to the office. I called the B&B folk, went and checked in, got my keys and such, then went back to the office and worked for the rest of the day.

I asked for advice on food at night - it's the Financial District, not much is open after the businesses, and Wall Street, closes. But I was told to go in the direction of the water, there was a bunch of shops down there, and probably some place to eat (I know, they weren't too helpful). I wandered down at dinner time when I was hungry, found a neat restaurant, had dinner and dessert (expense accounts, wheee!), and then wandered back. No one had even suggested visiting the World Trade Center - the Twin Towers were a few blocks in the other direction, probably not even as far as the water. I know now that there were stores and restaurants in there, places I could have eaten, and might very well have, had I known.

The next morning, I woke up and turned on the TV in my little room. I delayed going into work because they were announcing the Oscar nominees. I was really cheering for Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, amongst others. Watched the announcements, then checked out, headed to work, and later in the day, headed home.

I saw the Towers only at a distance when I was in the city. And then eight months later - nearly to the day - they were gone.