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I checked.  She’s cute even when it’s dark.

It was a gorgeous sunny day.  After some reflection on what today means to us, be it Remembrance Day or Veterans Day, we tumbled out the door to catch some vitamin D.  Lately we’ve been snugging Pepper into the Baby Bjorn but today was so beautiful we wanted her to see a bit of it.  So into the car seat/stroller she went.  The sun was warm but the shade was a cool, so she was layered in with sweater and snuggly fleece wrap thingy.  Cozy, is what I’m getting at.  It was hard to tell if she was actually “enjoying” the sights.  The way her little body settles into the car seat she looks a little like the Emperor brooding on his throne in Return of the Jedi.  Especially when her fingers are doing that fiendish plot thing.  But she seemed content to be wheeled around for an hour.  So that was nice.

We walked past a pub owned by a couple that lives in our building.  We were expecting Alewife to be closed up for flood repairs – the water all around here was four and five feet deep.  But they are open with a limited menu and a friendly caution not to trip over the buckled floor planks.  I think the room is great, and the beer will do just fine.  Delicious wings.  It’s only a short walk – we will definitely be back.  Gotta support your neighbors.  Doubly so if there’s beer involved.

Tomorrow is a holiday for many.  For those that get them.  I’m a little spoiled in that, holiday or work day, I love my job.  Plus, of course, I get holidays.  Tomorrow I’ll either be supervising a major website migration, or I’ll do some pre-production for a quick shoot on Tuesday, and once we’re done the pre-pro we’ll get back to work on the super secret tv project.  A big reason I love my job is that I get to wear so many hats.  Did you ever take one of those career finder tests in high school?  Those ones that are supposed to help you figure out what sort of job you’d enjoy?  I tried a few times, but always broke the system.  Go figure.

I think things turned out alright.

First: lunch.

The Barans met up with the Taverners for lunch at Brio.  Brio (at the Flatiron), for those of you who are not yet aware, is frickin fabulous.  The service is unpretentious and attentive, the room is lux without extravagance, and the food… oh the food.  There is a small part of me that hates going there, because choosing what to order is torture.  It helps to go in groups of four or more, so that you can count on someone to order the Cacio e Pepe.  That might free you up to order the Manzo.  Unless you’re into the squid ink pasta with the lobster (etc), and by all accounts, once you’ve tried it, you are indeed into it.

Yeah, if you love proper Italian food, you need to go to Brio.  Broadway @ 21st.  You’re welcome.

After lunch, Marjorie and Avery were thinking they’d aim for home rather than day-quest with the rest of the Taverners.  We took the very handy East River Ferry from the 34th Street stop (the north end of the route), dropped my girls at the next stop (Hunters Point, a five minute walk from home) and carried on to the south end of the route – Pier 11/Wall Street.  Had to show the folks the old hood.  We saw South Street Seaport, but there’s not much going on there in this crisp autumn shoulder season.  So we had a pint.  Then we zipped up to the 54th floor of my old building to check out the view.

What a cute little camera.

Holy family, Batman.  Who is this guy that is me?  Domesti-city.  Wife, daughter, lunch dates with the parents.  Astonishing.  A great Saturday.

That reminds me – must remember to set the DVR for The Walking Dead premier.  If I forget… the zombies win.

There’s the Adrian we know and love.

Nope, now he’s going to talk about his daughter again, and how adorable she is, and some monumental incremental developmental baby newness over which we should all be going gaga.

We gave Avery her 3rd bath ever tonight.  Maybe it was heating the room to sauna levels first, or getting her comfortable being naked first, or just the overall casualness of the approach, but she didn’t squawk at all.  She loved going in, being in, and getting washed.  Nice long soak.  Not a peep until we took her out.  And then mostly conversational.  She even seemed to be trying out the smile machine.  Heart-rendingly adorable.  There.  I said it.  Now I can go to bed.

With one eye open for zombies.  Because that’s how daddy rolls.